All Star Teacher named by Pirates, companies
ADAMS TWP — A surprise visit to the Mars Centennial School STEAM classroom recognized a teacher for her efforts in and out of the classroom and awarded her a grant to continue her work engaging students with the latest lessons in science, engineering and technology.
Representatives from Chevron, the Grable Foundation, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pirates Charities came to the school Monday to announce that teacher Colleen Hinrichsen has been named an All Star Teacher of the Year.
Hinrichsen was one of just 18 teachers to receive the recognition, which comes complete with a $1,000 check to pay for upgrades or improvements for the class as well as a personalized Pirates jersey and on-field recognition during a Pirates game at PNC Park this season.
There were more than 320 nominations, said Lee Anne Wainwright, STEM Education Investment Team Lead and Public Affairs Representative at Chevron. “To have one of your teachers be one of the top six of your category is pretty exciting,” she said.
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Wainwright extolled Hinrichsen's work teaching the STEAM class at the Mars Elementary and Middleschools while also working with teachers to integrate technology in their classroom and running the before-school club LITE (Ladies Innovating through Technology and Engineering) which encourages girls to get involved in science. A teacher at Mars since 2005, Hinrichsen has taught the STEAM class for the last two years, teaching students everything from coding and programming to electronics and innovative problem solving.
Hinrichsen said Monday's recognition was a “total shock” and that she and her students were excited. All students from kindergarten through sixth grade attend STEAM class once a week year-round.
“They love it,” said Kara Eckert, director of curriculum, instruction and innovative practices at Mars. “It gives them a chance to think creatively.”
While many classes are book-based, STEAM is “more inquiry-based,” Eckert said.
This means students spend more time trying to solve problems through the tools they've been learning, rather than trying to remember facts out of a book or lecture.
Company and foundation representatives said Hinrichsen's effort in and out of the classroom are what qualified her to be an All Star Teacher of the Year.
“The Pirates are proud to call attention to and honor our region's terrific educators,” said Frank Coonelly, Pirates president. “Our teachers go above and beyond by dedicating their lives to helping generations of children reach their potential and making a positive impact in our community. For that, they should be honored, and we are proud to partner with Chevron and the Grable Foundation to provide such recognition.”
Gregg Behr, executive director of the Grable Foundation, said, “Teachers are amazing at their craft. They're caring, creative, flexible, thoughtful, and always thinking about ways to support their students. These 18 All Star Teachers represent the hundreds, if not thousands, of heroes in classrooms all across our region.”
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