Hamilton High School science teacher Dawn Berkshire tells the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board about a student nominating her for a University of Chicago Outstanding Teacher award.
Dawn Berkshire’s not a student, alumna or faculty at the University of Chicago. That didn’t prevent her from winning an award from that institution.
Berkshire recently learned she was chosen for an Outstanding Teacher Award at the University of Chicago. After nomination by a now-former student, Arnav Nigam, Berkshire, a Hamilton High School science teacher, learned she’s won.
Berkshire told the CUSD Governing Board about the award and the student who nominated her, during the board’s Oct. 23 meeting.
She said the University of Chicago allows incoming freshman — such as Nigam, who graduated from Hamilton High in May — to nominate teachers who inspired them or helped them through part of the educational journey to the university.
She said neither Nigam nor anyone else detailed much of the nomination or review process — just that she'd won.
Berkshire told the tale of one of Nigam’s first days in her classroom. Wanting to be a more advanced chemistry class, Nigam brought a pillow to class to rest his head on, presumably as a symbol of boredom.
Berkshire said she then allowed Nigam to teach class that day. She said he “got a little nervous” and struggled, and the two butted heads over various issues in the subsequent months, but eventually were very much on the same page.
Berkshire later agreed, at Nigam’s urging, to be a sponsor for Hamilton’s Speech and Debate Club — one of the largest on campus.
The Nevada-Las Vegas alumna said Nigam, now an economics and political science freshman in Chicago, makes very persuasive arguments.
“I’m not really a coach; I’m just a teacher who does all the paperwork,” Berkshire said. “The kids are phenomenal.”
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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