A Golden Apple for Carl Sandburg science teacher
The little blobs suspended in a popular soft drink are raisins but the kids think they’re sewer maggots — another lesson sweetener from the mind of science teacher Mike Sementa.
When the carbonation kicks in, the raisins “swim” up and down, sparking curiosity and questions from the sixth-graders at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Mundelein.
“It’s observation skills,” says Sementa, who tries to do one demonstration lab a week.
What his students saw Tuesday was a top teacher in the Chicago area rendered nearly speechless after learning during a surprise classroom visit that he was one of 10 winners of the Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
Kristie Charles, a third-grade teacher at Hunting Ridge School in Palatine and a 2006 Golden Apple winner, helped break the news.
“We were amazed not only by your teaching skills, but the rapport you have with your students,” said Charles, who visited the Mundelein Elementary District 75 school recently to speak with Sementa’s peers and others as part of the selection process.
“We had a student that actually flew back from college for the interview,” she said afterward.
Sementa, who also teaches seventh and eighth grade science application classes, knew he was a finalist for the prestigious award, which has been granted annually since 1986 by the Chicago-based Golden Apple Foundation.
But he obviously was stunned and apparently choked up at the honor.
“It’s good for our staff. It’s good for our community. It’s good for our building,” said a humbled Sementa, who has taught at Carl Sandburg for 11 years. Teaching is one thing he knows he does well, he added.
A few select staffers, including Principal Mark Pilut, found out late last week and were able to keep the lid on the news.
“He’s pretty humble. I think he was in shock,” Pilut said. “It’s a great accomplishment. He works hard to hone his craft.”
Sementa’s wife, Cindy, a psychologist at the school, said part of the reason he coaches track and cross country is that everybody can participate.
“I think he thinks that’s a key for kids,” she said.
In a summary, the foundation noted parents feel Sementa is an integral part of the community and a “stalwart champion” of his students.
Those include former students, now in high school and college. Amanda Adams, the daughter of school nurse Michelle Adams, for example, is teaching robotics and will graduate from Ohio State University in June. Sementa will be there.
“It started with him. She’ll never forget Mike,” Michelle Adams said of her daughter’s interest in technology. “He opened a lot of doors for her as far as her mind.”
Students in his sixth grade science class erupted at the news.
“He’s awesome,” yelled Max Basso, 11.
“This class isn’t boring,” agreed Zitlally Samano, 11. “It’s my favorite class.”
Seven of the 10 winners were from Chicago schools. Carla Stone, a math teacher at Nichols Middle School in Evanston and Howard Templer, a fourth-grade teacher at Braeside School in Highland Park, joined Sementa as suburban winners.
Each receives a tuition-free spring semester sabbatical to study at Northwestern University and a $3,000 cash award. The 2011 winners will be honored Oct. 21 at a black tie event at WTTW/Channel 11 studios in Chicago.
Sementa hasn’t decided what to study but said he will talk with Pilut and Superintendent Cynthia Heidorn “and try to figure out what would be of benefit to the district and the students.”