By Kenneth Roberts,Special to the Sun Journal

TURNER – A teacher who incorporated math, science, history and religion into a home economics project was named the first recipient of a new prize for teacher excellence in SAD 52.

Sharon Hathaway, who has taught at Leavitt Area High School for 34 years, won the $5,000 Patience W. Norman Prize, named for a former history teacher.

Hathaway was recognized as the district teacher who most emulates the philosophy of Norman: Stimulate intellectual curiosity, raise aspirations, demand critical thinking.

The prize was awarded by the Maine Community Foundation, which described Patience Norman as a teacher with “a fine, inquisitive mind who believed her students were capable of academic excellence, required her students to work hard and challenged them to surpass her, and their own, expectations.”

According to Jean Warren, scholarship funds manager at the foundation, a former student of Norman created the fund as an annual award to promote teacher retention in District 52. The person wants to remain anonymous.

School Principal Patrick Hartnett, who nominated Hathaway for the prize, cited her as one of the most creative and innovative teachers with whom he has worked.

While teaching students the basics of family and consumer science – home economics – Hathaway has, as Hartnett said in his nomination, “Created a near cult following in a discipline that is being phased out nationally and around the state. She has done this through her passion for teaching and her innovative classes.”

For example, in a project called Exploring Lancaster County, students learned scientific concepts through studying the chemistry of original dye techniques, applied mathematical ratios in quilting and learned the historical and religious underpinnings, as well as the culinary heritage, of Amish culture. The class then traveled to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania to experience the culture firsthand.

Hathaway’s students also have made quilts for children in Mississippi who were victims of Hurricane Katrina; made more quilts for the Community Baby Shower conducted by Advocates for Children; made book bags for the children of the Leavitt Area High School Class of 2019 who will enter the district’s first full-day kindergarten in the fall.

Such “project-based learning” teaches students much more than simply how to do something, Hathaway said. “It gives all young people the opportunity to be part of, and participate in, their community.”

She claimed her success with young people comes from looking at all students as individuals and giving them the experience of being successful.

“She teaches all students to the best of her ability every class, every day,” Hartnett said.

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