Dr. Al Scopino
Captain Nathan Hale Middle School

Dr. Al Scopino – or Dr. Sco, as he is known – is a true scholar and gentleman. He is a role model to students and staff at Captain Nathan Hale Middle School in Coventry. “It is truly an experience to see Dr. Sco working with middle-level students,” states his principal, Marie Castle-Good. “He is caring and respectful to all of his students.”

Four years ago Dr. Scopino wanted to work with SEE and his students to create a school-based “Schweitzer Club.” The plan was to create a mentoring program that would help not only students in the middle school but in other countries as well. Dr. Sco’s first mentoring group chose a little village in Haiti as a community in need. Working together, they were able to send money and books to help pay for room, board and salary for a Haitian teacher. This April, Dr. Sco’s very first group of Schweitzer students, now juniors in high school, will travel to Haiti to work with the students and the teacher they began to help in 1999.

Each year the Schweitzer club grows. This year’s mentors tutor fifth-graders and read to and collect food for the children at a local shelter. Dr. Scopino always gives the credit to the students, but the truth is without him they would not have this learning experience and determination to serve others. Captain Nathan Hale Middle School is very proud of their eighth-grade social studies/language arts teacher, Dr. Al Scopino, who demonstrates ethics in action.