Top Teachers
Saturday, January 17, 1998
Name: Susan McCutcheon
Position: ASSETS School teacher - chemistry, literature and physics
Education: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Pastimes: Science treks
Each Wednesday during the school year, two dozen or so ASSETS School students go into the real world to apply what they learned in science class. Getting real about science
At Coconut Island's Marine Research Training Center, they help scientists in oceanography experiments. At Bishop Museum, they help in research fields such as astronomy and entomology.
The students can thank teacher Susan McCutcheon for their experiences. McCutcheon helped start both mentorship programs, and she isn't done yet.
"We are looking for places they can work directly with scientists," she said. "We plug them into places where they can have a mentor. They're also getting ideas about careers, and they're learning how to work in the community."
Last spring, McCutcheon was named to the Association of Science-Technology Center's Honor Roll of Teachers. The distinction earned her a trip to Washington, D.C. where she and other recipients met with legislative delegations and attended seminars.
While McCutcheon isn't the only ASSETS teacher to have set up mentor programs off campus, hers have been among the most successful, said Lou Salza, head of ASSETS School.
"Susan is the kind of person who taps into students' strengths and passions whether they are artistic or whether they are scientific," he said.
"She's able to find those activities that really inspire the students to go beyond textbook activities."
Star-Bulletin staff
