Whiz Kid: Meet Charles Clauss

Whiz Kid's name: Charles Clauss

Whiz Kid's age: 13

Whiz Kid's school: Lochburn Middle School

Whiz Kid's accomplishment: Charles, an eighth-grader, is called an “utterly amazing kid” by Lochburn staff. He has served as a teacher’s assistant in both an English Language Learners (ELL) class and at the main office. The aspiring pilot, who spends his weekends practicing on a flight-simulator game, is also a budding author. His first book, “When I Met Bruno,” is in the works.

Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness: Charles has never been an ELL student, but being of Panamanian descent resulted in him learning fluent Spanish. As an ELL teaching assistant, he has led table groups and facilitated learning in literature circles with little direction from teacher Shelly Heinzman, who praised Charles' ability to keep his peers on-task. “Charles is sort of like a 40-year-old adult walking around in a middle-schooler’s body,” Heinzman said. “He is just as amiable, respectful and kind as he is super intelligent.”