Saturday, February 1, 1997
Name: Gay Chang
Age: 49
Position: Teacher, Pukalani Elementary
Education: University of Hawaii
Pastimes: Crafts, reading
"She always enjoyed her work. She was my first role model," said Chang, a second-grade teacher at Pukalani Elementary School on Maui.
Principal Ruth Silberstein said Chang is also a role model.
"She's very interested in getting kids to read and love reading," Silberstein said.
Chang has been in charge of the school reading program and Book-It Reading Store.
The store, in the teachers work room, is open Thursdays during recess and run by Chang and parent volunteers.
Chang said a child earns credits by reading books and redeem them for discounted prices on items.
"It's to encourage the kids to become lifelong readers," Chang said.
Chang, who has been at the school since it opened in 1976, said this is an exciting time to be a teacher because of new ways to teach subjects.
In a recent science project, students built miniature sailboats and calculated the amount of water in their miniature lake.
Chang has a mouse named "Squeaky" and four frogs as class pets. Students take turns caring for them during recess.
"Kids go out and find little bugs to feed their frogs. It's hands-on and they're learning not to be afraid," she said. "It's good for them, as long as they wash their hands."