Provided by Prince William County Schools (PWCS)
Physics Teacher LoriAnn Pawlik Receives Award
LoriAnn Pawlik, physics instructor at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, turned a global pandemic into an opportunity for students to learn and explore the world of science a little differently. The Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) recognized Pawlik’s extensive work and outward thinking by presenting her with the Recognition in Science Education (RISE) award for Outstanding Physics Teacher. Pawlik’s ability to devise cutting edge and relevant ways to engage students in subject matter concepts while adapting to a virtual environment is a testament to her resiliency and perseverance as recognized by the award.
Pawlik began teaching physics at Colgan High in August of 2020 after having spent several years as an elementary classroom teacher and K-5 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teacher. Just a few short months into her first year at Colgan, teaching and learning had to be altered due to the pandemic. Pawlik saw this change as an opportunity to connect her students and their learning about physics in a whole new way.
As a certified educator and facilitator with National Geographic, Pawlik partnered with Marissa Cuevas Floras, National Geographic Explorer based in Mexico, to tie physics into a global perspective for her students. Both Pawlik and Cuevas Flores wanted to have maximum impact on students to help them care about the world and their place in it – empowering them to make a difference. Students used digital learning platforms and teleconferencing to connect with each other and Cuevas Flores. They identified concerns in their own community, discussed those issues, and communicated with each other to take action.
“Applying our physics principles through actual real-world learning helped our students learn to care for others and the environment” mentioned Pawlik.
While navigating teaching and learning new ways, this partnership helped students set goals and make real connections while demonstrating care, which greatly improved everyone’s mental health. The partnership was documented in detail by Pawlik through a creative story map titled, Resilience and Perseverance.
Pawlik joins Debra Peterman, an eighth-grade physical science teacher at Benton Middle School, who also received a RISE award this year. These two outstanding PWCS educators have the honor of being two out of only seven recipients of this award in the state of Virginia for 2021.
Language Teacher Kay Choi Receives Award
The Foundation for Korean Language and Culture (FKLAC) in the United States has awarded Kay Choi (Kyung mi Kay Choi) with the distinguished Ailee Moon Award for championing Korean culture and language and being a model of excellence in her profession. Choi has been a master teacher of French and Korean at C.D. Hylton High School, which houses the Division’s Center for International Students and Languages. Her nomination declares her a champion of Korean culture and language, a role model of excellence in preparing students for the 21st century global workforce and community.
Choi has established herself in PWCS as a very successful teacher of French for 16 years, teaching through the Advanced Placement level. In 2015, under the guidance of Carol Bass, supervisor for the PWCS World Languages program, Choi helped create the School Division’s first Korean course and subsequent levels of Korean studies through level four. Since then, she has 90 non-heritage students choosing to study Korean at Hylton High School with her, despite the other languages this specialty school has available for study, including Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
Choi’s efforts to build collaborative, meaningful community connections have led to leadership involvement with the Korean Embassy and nearly annual school visits by embassy liaisons. She sponsors a Korean Cultural Club at Hylton High, with 37 student members and has sponsored her students for study abroad scholarships, including through such international opportunities as the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, which aims to promote critical language learning among American youth. She has promoted students for the Global Korea Scholarship Invitation Program to visit Korea and even had students go on to attend Yonsei University.
Bass said, “Being of Korean heritage and tri-lingual (English, French, and Korean), Mrs. Choi has always been one of our most respected, caring, committed, and authentic role models of embracing eastern and western languages and cultures, hence being in the perfect setting as an inspiring human resource for all students in grades 9 through 12 at this international studies high school. She won the hearts of her students from that first class of 30 students who registered to take Korean 1 in 2015.”
