Mrs. Lau Is Teachers' Choice for 2021 Sidney Millman Award
Mrs. Lau prepares lessons and activities about Wave and Water Dynamics for her Ocean Science students. Photo: Celine Lam
By XIN LAN HUANG and YUN HAO DONG
Mrs. Kimberly Lau, a chemistry, AP Environmental Science, ocean science, and culinary science teacher, is the winner of 2021 Sidney Millman Award, recognizing excellence in teaching. Mrs. Lau, who is currently in her ninth year teaching at Midwood, is also a former Midwood student.
Her students describe her as “strict” but also “versatile,” “devoted,” “admirable,” and “nurturing.”
“Mrs. Lau made me feel affirmed in my abilities, and I feel confident that I can do what is being asked in her class,” said Lucero Rodriguez ‘22. “I strive to be my best self there.”
“When we make a mistake, Mrs. Lau doesn’t correct us in a way that’s discouraging,” said Faith Matthew ‘23. “She does it in a way that makes us want to do better next time. So every time I’m in one of her classes, I always see a linear increase of how well I do because she makes me want to try harder.”
“If I confront a difficult problem,” Wesley Corona ‘22 said, “I feel like I can use what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired in her classes to solve it.”
Her colleagues, some of whom were her former teachers when she attended Midwood, described her as being “innovative,” “energetic,” and “a great asset to the Midwood community.”
“I’d like to clone her,” said Mr. Alan Stack, the AP of Organization and a former science teacher. “I had Mrs. Lau in my organic chemistry class, and she always did her work. She was one of those students who was always happy, and now she’s one of those teachers who is always happy and always smiling.”
Mr. Howard Spergel recalls meeting Mrs. Lau when it was his first year teaching AP Physics and she was a student in his class. “I was inexperienced,” he said. “Mrs. Lau struggled a bit in my class and had to turn to the kid next to her for help, who eventually became her tutor and future husband. She was a good worker and did what she needed to do.”
“She’s very supportive and willing to go the extra mile to help her students,” said Mr. Cameron Jahn.
We sat down with Mrs. Lau to get a look into how her teaching career came to be.
What was your first teaching experience like?
Fast-paced. It was a lot at once, but I had been a student here at Midwood, so I had an easier time adapting than most people because I already knew how the school system worked. Teaching is like running a marathon, except the runners are the teachers, and June is the end of the race. Everyone is running this race, and in a blink of an eye, you’ve reached the end.
What has kept you teaching so far?
I like it. I will never be bored because when you have different interactions with unique students with distinct personalities, it keeps it interesting. They learn new things, so you always see that fascination displayed on their faces, and it is quite entertaining to watch.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
Mrs. Lau and her husband went apple picking with friends last October. Photo: Mrs. Kimberly Lau
My teachers — all of them at Midwood. I had two favorite teachers, and one of them is now retired. Mr. Esposito was my AP Chemistry teacher, and the other teacher is still here: Mr. Stack, whom I had for organic chemistry. I liked their classes even though I wasn’t the best at chemistry. You have to find an activity that’s enjoyable to you because you’ll be motivated to do it and you’ll want to be present for it.
How did your teaching career start?
Technically, I owe my career to Mr. Spergel. I had just graduated from college, and I was applying for jobs. Mr. Spergel knew he was going to be absent a few times that year, so he got Mr. McDonnell to hire me as a substitute on February 8, 2013. Now I’m here working full time!
Do you have any funny teaching stories?
I taught extra random topics in my AP Environmental Science class after the AP exam. One of my classes about seven years ago was learning about a national reserve called God’s Pocket, located in Canada. I gave a quiz on it, and there was a bonus question where I asked: “Where is God’s Pocket?” And this kid wrote: “In his jeans.” I was like, this kid has a sense of humor, but he had no idea what I had been talking about for the last two days. But it was so funny and random when I read that.
She and her husband met while they were both students at Midwood. Photo: Mrs. Kimberly Lau
What challenges or difficult experiences have you encountered as a teacher?
It’s just a lot going on. This year, I teach four different subjects, so I have four different lessons each day. So four lessons a day means 20 a week to create or edit. In addition to 20 lessons a week, there are also quizzes, exams, homework, and review sheets. On top of that, there are emails to respond to, recommendations to write for my students’ scholarships, and college applications. Teachers don’t just go home and rest; we are always busy.
What lessons have you learned from this job?
There’s a lot of different learning styles, and as a teacher, you have to be flexible. I haven’t penalized anyone for late work because I understand that students have other things going on. You adjust to these circumstances easier the longer you teach. It is okay to not finish a topic in one day, and it is okay to move on to the next day as long as the kids understand what you did cover.
What life lesson would you give to your students?
Hard work is always worth it, even if you don’t see it being rewarding now. Don’t give up!