Hingham Extraordinary Teacher: Barbara Berlucchi

Name:             Barbara Berlucchi

School:            Hingham High School

Subject:           Science

Grades:           9, 11, 12

Barbara Berlucchi’s undergraduate degree is in biology, a subject she teaches at along with chemistry and oceanography.

 Teaching for 28 years, Berlucchi has a love of science, inquiries and questions. “Science is not a static discipline,” she said. "It is always evolving and new information comes out so quickly, it is a challenge to stay current with it."

 Berlucchi’s description of science is just like what her students are experiencing: They are at a point in life where they start making decisions and moving in certain directions.

 She respects them, seeing the person beyond the student.  They are rational, and there is a maturity there, she said.

That respect is most likely part of the reason many return to her classroom even when she is no longer their teacher.

“They come to talk about what is going on with them. We have good conversations,” she said.

 Berlucchi said she was bowled over when she discovered past student s artistic gifts. According to Brittany, Berlucchi’s encouragement to blend artistic talents with science sparked significant progress toward her higher goals and life dreams.

Creating meaningful connections requires a give-and-take between students and teachers, said Berlucchi.

Even with the hectic pace of what Berlucchi calls putting on a program for each of her classes, she makes a point to be available for those connections that happen beyond, and because of science lessons.

Hingham honors you, Mrs. Berlucchi, for blending your intelligence as an Extraordinary Teacher of sciences with your wise awareness that sparks students’ futures.