By Gassia Ashikian
Staff Writer
As Mira Costa’s laboratory assistant, Karen Cunningham concocts mixes and creates solutions; the passion she has for her job is palpable.
Cunningham has been at Costa for six years. She worked at all five Manhattan Beach Unified School District elementary schools as a classroom and chorale music assistant for 10 years prior to her time at Costa.
“I would always sing with my students and plan the Spring Sing concert at each school,” Cunningham said. “When the new position of a science lab assistant came up, I immediately jumped for the exciting opportunity.”
Cunningham enjoyed both her English and psychology classes because of the freedom of both subjects when she was a student at Bishop Montgomery High School. Later, Cunningham got her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in psychology from California State University, Long Beach.
“I always thought science was fascinating,” Cunningham said. “I thought it would be fun and interesting to become a lab assistant because everyday you get to experiment with new things.”
According to Cunningham, about 10 out of the 14 Costa science teachers request to conduct labs in her classroom. She is in charge of setting up the lab, giving the teachers an extra pair of eyes for safety issues and making sure the supplies are cleaned and stored after each lab experiment.
“Cunningham is an invaluable force in the Science Department,” biology teacher Jessica Bledsoe said. “She is the glue that holds Costa science together.”
Teachers sign up on a calendar for the days that they wish to have labs in Cunningham’s room. Prior to each lab, teachers provide Cunningham with a copy of the lab instructions so the classroom is prepared for the students.
“Since I have observed so many labs, I am able to give my insight to other teachers with labs that I believe will be the most effective with the curriculum,” Cunningham said. “I encourage teachers to try new ones.”
Cunningham is in charge of the general science lab and California Scholarship Federation funds. CSF is a scholarship program that rewards Costa students who achieve academically.
“Since students drop off their donations in my room, it makes me happy to be able to interact with a diverse group of kids,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham chaperones science field trips that pertain to the Costa Science Department. In April, she will go with the marine biology students on the Tole Mour ship with science teachers Harold Coller and Karl Kurz.
“We will be staying on a schooner ship for five days,” Cunningham said. “The students will study the ship and learn about organisms in the ocean.”
Because Cunningham is an assistant instead of a teacher and is not in the position to critique or judge students, she feels that forming unique bonds with her students is easy.
“I have become very close with Cunningham this year,” junior Cierra Brown said. “She has helped me look for colleges and always gives me advice with any problems that I may have.”
According to many teachers, the time Cunningham puts into helping science teachers with their labs is much appreciated.
“It is very helpful to have an extra body during a lab,” biology and chemistry teacher Teresa Nielsen said. “Without her help, labs would not go as smoothly.”
Cunningham feels like she has acted as a mentor for several of the students over the past years.
“I love my job,” Cunningham said. “Not a day goes by where someone doesn’t tell me thank you. I feel very appreciated.”
Leave a Reply