Top Teachers
Saturday, September 27, 1997
Name: Patrice C. Turk
Age: 52
Position: Teacher, Lokelani Intermediate
Education: National Louise University in Illinois
Pastimes: Long-distance running
As part of her summer education, Lokelani Intermediate School teacher Patrice Turk learned how it feels to step into another person's shoes. For her, teaching is no act
Turk, 52, worked at a hotel for the first time under an intern program and got a close-up look at what skills employees need to enter the work force.
At night, she rehearsed for her role as Mrs. Sowerberry in the Baldwin Theatre Guild's production of "Oliver."
"She's terrific. She's always learning. She's got to be one of the most positive people around," said Principal Marion Muller.
Superintendent Herman Aizawa recently recognized Turk and eight other Maui teachers for completing 32 hours of instruction conducted by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts program. The program shows teachers how to integrate the arts into the classroom.
Turk, the lead sixth-grade English teacher at Lokelani, said Hawaii's children have a natural bent toward storytelling and expressing themselves through painting and poetry.
She applies different academic disciplines to a topic. Under her instruction, for instance, students learn there is a scientific as a well as a political side to water on Maui.
Turk said she sometimes grows as much as her students. Recently, she's found new challenges as a drama student. "I always tell my students we are lifelong learners, and we have to take risks."
Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
