Hinsdale Middle School teacher Susan Wachowski wants pupils to feel safe in her classroom, whether they are gushing about some obscure mathematical formula, giggling nervously during a Holocaust lesson, teasing the teacher about her Star Trek paraphernalia, or snuggling with a stuffed animal.
Known as “The Big Wahoo” in a school where she has taught math and science and social studies for 14 years, Wachowski wants to cultivate curiosity about the subjects she is teaching, and respect for differences among pupils’ peers and throughout society.
“At this age, they don’t want to be noticed, they don’t want to stick out. They want to be like everyone else,” Wachowski said. “I’m a good role model for kids who are afraid to be themselves because I have a tendency to get excited about things most people find boring.”
Wachowski’s irreverent style, engaging lessons and connection to her kids earned her a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was one of five teachers honored Wednesday at area schools.
The other honorees were Steve Salski, a social studies teacher at Lincoln Hall Middle School in Lincolnwood; Cynthia Bell, a math and science instructor at Still Middle School in Aurora; David Jones, a physical education and fine arts instructor at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School in Glenview; and David Kayson, a language arts and drama teacher at Keller Junior High School in Schaumburg.
Five more award winners are scheduled to be announced Thursday.
Each winner receives an Apple computer, a semester sabbatical at Northwestern University and $2,500. Winners join other Golden Apple recipients in an academy that develops programs to improve education. They also will be formally honored in May during a one-hour special on WTTW-Ch. 11.
The awards are sponsored by the Golden Apple Foundation, a Chicago-based non-profit group that recognizes 10 exemplary teachers each year. This year the foundation chose to highlight middle schools.
The judges said Wachowski, a teacher for 21 years, infuses each math and history lecture with her love for the subjects. Her room, they noted, is covered in fractal art and Star Trek memorabilia.
In Steve Salski’s social studies class, 6th graders apply for jobs, pay bills, rent their desks and balance their checkbooks to keep the schoolhouse community of “Salskiville” running.
To learn Egyptian history, they crown Salski pharaoh and labor as ancient slaves. The pupils draw hieroglyphics, trade goods, bead jewelry and play Egyptian jeopardy.
Officials and a camera crew surprised Salski’s classroom with an early morning visit, leaving pupils open-mouthed and their teacher short on words.
“I’m shocked and overwhelmed,” said Salski, a former financial analyst, as pupils from other classes poured in to congratulate him. “I’m really honored. It’s really a team effort, not an individual effort.”
Schaumburg’s Kayson vowed to put off retirement another year after being surprised in his classroom with cake, balloons and a basket of apples–a golden one resting on top.
“It’s like winning the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, only better,” the 30-year veteran said as his 8th graders clapped and yelled. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. This is what I love.”
His pupils become comfortable acting or reciting poems in front of class, they say, because Kayson is always the first one to get on stage and act the fool.
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“Mr. Kayson likes to dance. He’s always dancing,” said Amanda Liesse, 14. “I’ve always been kind of shy. I have stage fright, but he gets me to open up. He makes everyone clap, and you feel good about yourself.”
Each year, Kayson creates a publishing company and has his 8th graders write, illustrate and bind their own book, which they keep. He also has pupils recite their own poetry, converting the school library into a makeshift coffeehouse where the kids snap their approval beatnik-style.
Judges cited Bell–known by her Aurora middle schoolers as “Ma Bell”–for removing the boredom from math classes, and getting her kids to work together to find solutions.
Jones, meanwhile, brings out the compassion in physical education by making sure all kids are included. At his Glenview school, girls who have hated gym class all their lives suddenly love it, their parents say.