Local teacher named a ‘hero’ for classroom efforts: Innovative classes equal funding
Published: September 15, 2006
Anna Panchekha knew that her students had what it took to succeed. They just needed the right equipment to do it, thought Panchekha, a chemistry teacher at Montclair High School.
Since joining MHS’s team of teachers in 2003, Panchekha realized that her chemistry students weren’t working with modern laboratory equipment that could be used to prove theories and illustrate lectures.
It was even more apparent when her high school students would attend annual statewide science competitions.
“We felt that we were at a disadvantage compared to other schools,” Panchekha told The Times. “The kids are great and they have a lot of potential, but sometimes they don’t have the tools they need.”
Now, things are changing.
Since last year, Panchekha has been awarded more than $12,000 for her classroom endeavors and has been named a “hero” by a company that recognizes the nation’s most innovative educators. Though the money has helped Panchekha purchase lab equipment — projectors, scales, hot plates and probe ware — her journey isn’t yet complete.
There’s more tasks remaining to accomplish, she said.
It all started last school year when Panchekha was on maternity leave. Though she was preparing for her second child to arrive, Panchekha also used the time away from work to plan new curricula and devise a way she could receive additional funds to purchase lab equipment for her students.
That was when a parent, Suzanne Newman, encouraged the high school teacher to apply for local and federal grants. At the time, the deadline was quickly approaching for a grant from the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence, a community organization supporting the township’s public schools.
“Suzanne encouraged me the whole way through. She saw that the students were very interested and a little more equipment for them would bring in more interest in the class,” Panchekha said. “Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Teachers and parents are much stronger together than when we are separate.”
Not too long after Panchekha applied for the grant, she received a notice that the MFEE awarded her $10,000.
Panchekha then applied for the 2006 ING Unsung Heroes awards program. The program recognizes kindergarten through 12th grade educators nationwide for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects and ability to make positive influences on the students they teach.
She decided to create a project that would help students understand the environmental impact of nuclear activities and radiation.
After all, there was a local radium problem in town.
For the past 20 years, Montclair, along with Glen Ridge and West Orange, dealt with radioactive waste contamination originating from an old factory that manufactured luminous watch dials in the 1920s. The company’s waste was used as landfill in low-lying areas of the towns, and homes were subsequently built on top of the fill.
An EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Superfund remediation program was designed and implemented and lasted for more than 15 years. The program, which was completed last year, cost about $220 million.
“This incident could be used as motivation to discuss this type of science more,” Panchekha said.
This summer, she was named as one of 100 winners in the nation who would receive a $2,000 award to help fund their innovative ideas.
Panchekha said the funds would be used for purchasing ultraviolet probes and radiation monitors. This school year, she hopes to begin the environmentally focused curriculum, which includes student group research on nuclear power, radon, UVA and UVB radiation, fieldwork to determine background radiation in different locations in Montclair, and laboratory exercises examining ways to protect people from UV radiation exposure.
“I’m hoping that someone will get into the project and maybe want to do this in the future,” she said.
There’s also more money coming to Montclair High School from the Toshiba American Foundation. Panchekha recently applied for and received a grant so that her students could take a closer look at consumer products.
“I want us to go to a pharmacy and see what is a true and what is a myth. We want to compare brand-named products with others,” she said. “I want to show the students about educational testing and how chemistry is more relevant in life.”
Panchekha expects the grant to be around $4,000.
Though the chemistry teacher is taking time off from applying for more grants, she admits that there are more things Montclair High School’s Science Department needs. From new or old lab equipment to speakers in the chemistry field, Panchekha hopes that others in the community will see the need to help their local high school.
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