Todd "Hoss" McNutt, a science teacher at Summit Charter Academy in Porterville, got a visit last week from Ron Clark of Atlanta, the teacher who inspired the made-for-TV movie "The Ron Clark Story."
Clark brought along a film crew to capture McNutt interacting with students -- "How's school going, kiddo? Getting smart?" he'll say -- and to see for himself why McNutt, a former smokejumper, is one of five finalists for the new national Great American Teacher Award that Clark is overseeing. Administrators at Burton School District nominated him.
Clark loved McNutt's robotics class.
"These kids are so well-behaved, it's amazing," Clark said. "And I've been to a lot of schools."
Clark, who was the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year and has been on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," taught in an inner city school and used creativity and innovation to win over students. He insisted that basic rules be followed, and later wrote the best-selling book "The Essential 55" that lists his rules. One example: Say thank you within three seconds of receiving something.
"He teaches like I teach," McNutt said. "In the first couple of weeks, students learn the basic rules. If you're coming in here, you're going to work. If not, go someplace else."
Clark, 37, started The Ron Clark Academy, a school for grades 5-8 and a training laboratory for 3,000 visiting teachers a year. With sponsorship from Dell, Coca-Cola and other corporations, Clark has launched the new Great American Teacher Awards. The winner will be announced Oct. 23 in Atlanta.
The day Clark stopped in Porterville, McNutt's students were putting motors on robot vehicles, tearing apart old copy machines for parts, and programming "Lego Mind Storm" robot cars to maneuver an obstacle course.
"It looks like organized chaos," McNutt said cheerfully.
Someone found a box of motors for robots.
"Don't lose the bolts, please -- because they're metric," McNutt called out.
"Because of Mr. McNutt, I know how to use almost any power tool my dad has," said student Carol Gardner, 14.
McNutt and his students have been featured in news stories for feats such as bolting trigger-activated cymbals to a wheelchair so a student with cerebral palsy can play in the high school band. Once, they built a pencil-holding prosthesis for a student born without a hand.
"I love coming to class on Monday because I've had all weekend to think of new ideas," McNutt told Clark. "The saddest part of the day is at 5:30 when I have to close the doors and they say, 'Aw!' "
Clark said teachers like McNutt set a tone.
"If the teacher has passion, the kids can tell," Clark said.
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