2013 Paul Shin Memorial High School
Teacher of the Year
In Nothing makes me happier then to be able to announce Paul Bender as the annual winner of the Paul Shin Memorial Award for High School Chemistry Teaching. Paul has been teaching at Whitney High School since the fall of 1993. Paul got his Bachelors at Biola University in 1993 and then started at Whitney immediately after that. He also earned a Masters degree (also from Biola) along the way in 2003. He has been teaching AP Chemistry since 2008.
Paul has regularly had students placing in the top of the section on the yearly ACS High School Chemistry Olympiad and has many students take part in the semifinal exam. In 2010 one of his students made it all the way to a medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Turkey. Our local Olympiad sponsor had much praise for Paul and thought him a excellent choice as this year’s winner.
Paul’s nominating letters from students show a true dedication to the profession. Sacrificing countless hours beyond the required to his students. His administrators and colleagues praised him as a not only truly dedicated to the school and it’s students but also to working very closely with the rest of the faculty. He has been a class sponsor and also brave enough to chaperone students on out of state trips, a challenge I am very familiar with, and it takes true dedication to undertake such a challenge.
It is rare these days to see such dedication as Paul displays. The students from my school participate in many academic competitions and meet the students from Whitney pretty regularly. They are a force to be reckoned with and now after seeing what Paul has done I can understand why. Whitney is very fortunate to have such a strong and dedicated individual as Paul Bender.
Paul will receive a $500 cash award from the local section, a plaque for display in his classroom, recognition at this year’s awards banquet, and bragging rights as this year’s winner. In addition we will forward his application this year for the Western Regional ACS Award.
– Michael Morgan, Chair, Education Committee
Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School