Top Teachers
Saturday, October 10, 1998
Name: Henry Aurio
Age: 49
Position: Wood technology teacher at Radford High School
Education: University of Hawaii
Pastimes: Softball, fishing, golfing, ukulele
When Henry Aurio was a young man, he never dreamed he'd become a teacher. Keep the kids interested
"It was out of the question," he said. "It was the last thing I wanted to do, because I was never one of those model students."
But when he decided to become a teacher nearly 10 years ago, he made it a point to make his courses more interesting than traditional lecture classes.
Aurio, who's in his ninth year teaching wood technology at Radford High School, said he gets to know each student. "A lot of these kids are not dumb. They're just lazy, or they've been treated wrong" and need an opportunity to discover their true potential, he said.
Aurio also coaches the girls varsity softball team and is adviser for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. He teaches a carpenter apprentice class Saturdays at Honolulu Community College.
Principal Robert Stevens said Aurio's No. 1 priority is his students, "and he makes no qualms about doing extra work during his own time to help either the kids or the school."
Aurio said many of his former students come back and visit him. Some students he thought would end up in jail now have good, satisfying jobs, he said. Some are now police officers, carpenters or in the construction industry.
"That's what keeps me teaching," Aurio said. "Those little things mean a lot to me. To me, that's more rewarding than any state or national honor."
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
