Farewell to Paulette Struckman

Teaching physics and teaching freshmen are two different skill sets. Finding them in the same person is not always easy. Luckily, Santa Catalina found Paulette Struckman.

For 25 years, Ms. Struckman served as students’ introduction to science at Catalina. Combining the excitement of discovery with respect for rigor, she turned what could have been an intimidating first-year course into a relatable, understandable exploration of the world around us. No matter the topic, she ensured that freshmen were building important foundational skills in everything from reading and math to abstract thinking.

Ms. Struckman might best be known for a design challenge in which students made shoes that allowed them to walk on eggs. She recalls, “In my first year, a girl walked across the eggs and didn't break a single one. She looked back at me and said, ‘I still don’t believe it can be done.’ Doing something they don’t think can be done is an empowering thing for students.”

Ms. Struckman wore many hats during her time here. She taught biology and environmental science; coached the equestrian team, the fencing club, and robotics; served on the resident faculty; advised STEM clubs; and accompanied students on big trips, like the senior rafting and sophomore Big Sur trips. A passionate environmentalist, she volunteered for international and local conservation efforts and shared these experiences with her students and the school at large.

One of her favorite aspects of teaching was working with students one on one. She loved the “positive peer pressure” at Catalina that encourages students to support one another and to reach out to their teachers. “And not just the struggling kids,” she remarks, adding: “Sometimes I would get kids coming in with some really sophisticated questions and things they were thinking about. I really liked building that relationship with students.”

The students liked it, too. One former student recalls: “I remember her enthusiasm for the subject matter and her endless patience with those of us who struggled with it. Her class ended up being one of my favorites during freshman year, and I’m so grateful for her passion and commitment to her students.”

Ms. Struckman says she learned a lot from her time at Catalina, from new perspectives provided by international students to how much people can change over time. A few things stand out: “As a culture, we need to be listening to thoughtful young people more. They see a lot. They understand a lot more than they get credit for. And they’re more capable than people give them credit for. We need to harness that for the powers of good.”