Washington, DC, January 8, 2008 – A public school teacher from California, Michigan, Oregon or Virginia will be selected this year as the 58th recipient of the nation’s top teaching honor—National Teacher of the Year—according to Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the ING Foundation, is a project of CCSSO.
“The Council is honored to present these four national finalists as representative of the great teaching that goes on in America’s classrooms each and every day,” said Wilhoit. “We at CCSSO know that the responsibility of ensuring student learning falls squarely on the shoulders of the teacher and any of these four will ably carry the message of learning to the American people as the 2008 National Teacher of the Year.”
Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation adds, “ING is proud to directly serve the financial needs of teachers throughout the nation, and we’re especially proud to sponsor the premier program that honors the nation’s teachers and highlights their accomplishments.”
The four finalists for 2008 are listed below. The quoted italicized text below includes excerpts from each of the finalists’ applications for National Teacher of the Year.
Lewis Chappelear—2008 California Teacher of the Year
Chappelear is a ninth through twelfth grade engineering and design teacher at James Monroe High School in North Hills, California. He has taught a total of eight years and been an educator at Monroe, a school of 3,207 students, for seven years.
“Teaching is about being an ambassador for humanity. There are moments when we are all teachers—the news reporter on television, the mother showing her child how to tie shoes, the store clerk counting money behind the counter, and the grandparent telling stories about the ‘good ‘ol days.’ These moments are important in forming the collective personality of our society. We teach those around us as we walk down the street, have conversations with peers and interact with strangers. Imagine what our world would look like if everyone set aside their differences, prejudices, and pride to just take a moment and honestly tune in to the needs of others.”
June Teisan—2008 Michigan Teacher of the Year
Teisan is a seventh grade science teacher at Harper Woods Secondary School in Harper Woods, MI. She has taught for 20 years, all at Harper Woods Secondary School which has 650 students.
“As the saying goes, everyone is an expert on education because of his or her own K–12 years; I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t have a ‘teacher story’ and most people will readily share in great detail about the good, bad, or indifferent. But unlike the old days, our ‘world is flat’ and the classroom of yesteryear must morph into an environment that prepares all children for life in a 21st century global community. What a terrific opportunity this presents to build on prior knowledge—the ‘I remember when’ stories—and cultivate in citizens across our country a deeper understanding of and appreciation for what it takes to be a talented, effective educator in today’s world.”
Michael Geisen—2008 Oregon Teacher of the Year
Geisen is a seventh grade science teacher at Crook County Middle School in Prineville, Oregon. He has taught at this school of 720 students for all seven of his years in the education profession.
“Let us all in America sincerely focus on the whole child, not just test scores or future adult success. The further from children one is, the easier it becomes to forget that we are dealing with real live human beings with legitimate needs, desires, and feelings. These young people are our equals. They are not simply numbers, conglomerations of hormones, or future products. All the latest programs, fads, and statistics are meaningless to a child who isn’t cared for on a deeper level. Whether you are a teacher or parent, businessperson or retired, young or old: reach deep down into each child with humor, love, and compassion and they will learn from you. They will learn much more than just how to read and write; they will learn they are wonderfully human.”
Thomas R. Smigiel, Jr.—2008 Virginia Teacher of the Year
Smigiel is a ninth and tenth grade teen leadership and earth science teacher at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia. He has been an educator at Norview, a school of 1,900 students, for all eight of his years serving as a teacher.
“Truly remarkable outcomes are possible in a classroom when trust, respect, and caring relationships are allowed to flourish. Think about how communicating a message of building positive relationships could change our education system! I believe we can repair our dropout issue by not only continuing our rigor, but also by capturing our kids’ hearts and giving our students personal attention. Let’s focus less on a ‘one size fits all’ approach to teaching and more on ‘one student at a time’ teaching. We must advocate for our students by being a voice for them and communicating their stories of empowerment, resiliency, and success.”
A panel of educators, representing the 15 largest national education organizations, chose the finalists from the 2008 teachers of the year representing the U.S. states, four U.S. extra-state territories, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity, and will select the 2008 National Teacher of the Year. Recognition by President George W. Bush of the national honoree and the state representatives will take place during the week of April 28–May 2, 2008.
The organizations represented on the National Selection Committee are: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association for Childhood Education International, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Association of Teacher Educators, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Congress of Parents and Teachers, National Education Association, National Middle Schools Association, National School Boards Association, and National School Public Relations Association.
To view the national applications of the finalists, click here.
For a list of 2008 state teachers of the year, click here.
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks members’ consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 112,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand. In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com. 
