Matthew McClenahan
Mathematics and Social Studies Teacher
HighTech High School
Lake Balboa, CA
Biographical Information:
Math and social studies teacher Mathew McClenahan finds innovative ways to get his students involved in active learning experiences at HighTechHigh in Los Angeles. He planned and organized a Museum Night for his tenth-grade world history classes, in which students researched and created museum exhibits showing different aspects of the culture, technology and history of ancient Rome. On display for fellow students, parents, school faculty and community members to see, the students' museum even included a gift shop. A key staff member since the school's inception, Mr. McClenahan helped HighTechHigh-LA become the only Los Angeles campus to score 100 percent on both the English and math portions of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). Though he began as a social studies teacher, Mr. McClenahan added math classes to his schedule, teaching students at three different levels of math and helping every one of them advance academically. When the University of California at Santa Barbara approached the school about establishing a summer satellite program for juniors and seniors interested in taking college classes for credit, Mr. McClenahan worked with administrators at both Birmingham High School and UCSB to reconfigure the school's technology infrastructure, helped bring the program online, and took charge of the admissions process. Many HighTechHigh students are achieving high success thanks to this high-quality teacher.
James Orihuela
Spanish Teacher
Cecil B. Demille Middle School
Long Beach, CA
Biographical Information:
Often called the "heart and soul" of DeMille Middle School's award-winning dual immersion program, Spanish and language arts teacher James Orihuela helps Spanish-speaking students interact with their English-speaking classmates, learning from each other about their respective languages and cultures as they learn the curricular content. Based on his own extensive research on dual immersion, Mr. Orihuela's program has resulted in a significant impact on academic achievement. One hundred percent of his students passed the Golden State Spanish Language exam during the three years it was administered, and 96 percent passed with high honors last year. According to a colleague, Mr. Orihuela's dual immersion students have the fewest discipline problems and receive the most academic achievement awards. Taking a diagnostic and prescriptive approach to instruction, Mr. Orihuela worked with experts in English instruction to develop standards for his Spanish classes that are aligned with English standards. His strategies in the classroom include using literature from Latin America and Spain and having students write and perform plays about the stories they read. Each year he organizes a diversity talent show with prizes donated by community businesses, as well as a year-end celebration for graduates who have gone through his dual immersion program. In 2003, DeMille Middle School was one of only three schools honored for their dual immersion programs with a Seal of Excellence Award by the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). An outstanding achievement in any language.
Suzanne Scotten
English and Journalism Teacher
Albert Einstein Middle School
Sacramento, CA
Biographical Information:
When your school is named after arguably the most famous genius of the 20th century, high expectations seem inevitable. But after achieving the highest academic gains in the district and garnering recognition as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, Einstein Middle School seems well on its way to living up to its namesake. A vital contributor to this success has been language arts teacher Suzanne Scotten. Having entered the teaching profession after years of private sector experience as the owner of a successful business, Ms. Scotten has helped boost academic performance among all of her eighth-grade students, including minorities and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Learning is an active experience in Ms. Scotten's classroom. Each year she collects poetry from over 200 students, which she and her classes compile and print in a bound book that is then sold on campus. She created, raised funds for and teaches the school's yearbook and journalism programs, and took the lead in organizing a field trip to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival in Oregon, which included a pre-trip after-school study of Richard III as well as theater workshops and two plays during the festival. Ms. Scotten is the co-creator of a 15-hour "survival workshop" for new teachers and the co-author of a book that offers templates for teachers to succinctly assess student progress. It doesn't take a genius to see the profound impact that this outstanding educator has had on her students and colleagues.
