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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 19, 2007

Pinner named Hawaii's Teacher of the Year

Video: 2008 Teacher of the Year
StoryChat: Comment on this story

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Pascale Pinner acknowledges receiving teaching honor. Seated from left are Pat Hamamoto, Karen Knudsen and John Penebacker.

CHRISTINA FALIMA | The Honolulu Advertiser

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TOPS IN THEIR DISTRICT

Pascale Pinner, of the Hawai'i District, was selected Hawai'i Teacher of the Year yesterday. Here are the other District Teachers of the Year recognized yesterday at Kailua Intermediate School:

Honolulu District: Cori Lei Chong, Ka'ewai Elementary

Central O'ahu District: David Arakaki, Moanalua Middle

Leeward O'ahu District: Shari Takahashi, Nanaikapono Elementary

Windward O'ahu District: Suzanne Cummings, Kailua High

Maui District: Leighton Nakamoto, Kalama Intermediate

Kaua'i District: Kevin Matsunaga, Kamakahelei Middle

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KAILUA — Pascale Pinner, an Earth/space science and science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, is the 2008 State Teacher of the Year, an honor that comes with a $1,000 cash award, $25,000 worth of technical equipment for her school and the use of a new car for a year.

In making the announcement yesterday at Kailua Intermediate School, state Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto said Pinner creates a captivating classroom that stimulates curiosity.

"She says her classroom is a 'place of innovation' where students 'can freely take risks as they learn through investigations that emphasize scientific problem solving, creativity and use of higher-order thinking skills,' " Hamamoto said.

Pinner teaches eighth-graders. She began her teaching career in 1988 at Hilo Intermediate and has been there ever since.

Pinner said she was excited, thrilled and honored to receive the award.

She said she had many teachers who inspired her along the way and said the ones who were excited, enthusiastic, fun and rigorous, and who set high expectations were her role models.

"I translated that into my teaching style," Pinner said.

Adorned with lei and beaming, she offered advice to teachers struggling under all of the bureaucratic requirements and paperwork.

"Stick with it," she said. "I've been doing it for 20 years. I'm in a school that's restructured and has been for a number of years. It doesn't matter. Everything that matters is the kids that are in your classroom every single day."

In 2002, she earned a certificate in early adolescent science from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In 2004, she won a Presidential Award for Excellence in science teaching, which is the nation's highest honor for math and science teachers.

Hamamoto said Pinner challenges her students to form and test scientific questions, engages them in service learning projects such as beach cleanups and takes them on environmental and astronomy field trips on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

"The Teacher of the Year award is one of our premier events to say thank you for the hard work that they do," Hamamoto said. "It's not only inspiring, it gives all of us hope that our teachers are doing what we know they can do best, and that is to take care of our children and give them the skills for the 21st century."

Pinner earned her bachelor's degree in biology and received her teaching certificates from the University of Hawai'i-Hilo. She is pursuing a doctoral degree from Northcentral University, an online university based in Arizona.

She also mentors and teaches adult learners at UH-Hilo and is on the Teacher Advisory Council to the National Academy of Science.

Hilo Intermediate Principal Elaine Christian traveled with Pinner to the ceremony and said Pinner is also involved in the young astronaut program and is invaluable to the school as a grant writer and curriculum teacher.

"We would not have technology in the school without her," Christian said. "Science Fair would not happen without her. She's an awesome lady. She works constantly. She comes here and she's correcting papers."

The Teacher of the Year is selected from among the seven District Teachers of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 cash prize from the Polynesian Cultural Center, a corporate sponsor of the award for 22 years. Each of the seven District Teachers of the Year received $500 cash from the center.

SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada presented $25,000 worth of software and hardware and other classroom technology to Pinner's school. Brian Chong with The Audio Visual Co. said Pinner will also attend classes to learn how to use all of the new equipment.

Pinner will also receive use of a 2007 Mazda CX7 for a year from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

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Teachers who make a difference

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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