Philip Bigler

1998 National Teacher of the Year
Humanities/History

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia

For almost 20 years Philip Bigler has awakened his students to the excitement of learning through history. On Friday, April 24, he was named 1998 National Teacher of the Year by President Clinton in a White House ceremony also honoring the 1998 State Teachers of the Year. At the conclusion of the 1997-98 school term, Mr. Bigler began a year as spokesperson for education to the nation and the world. He is on leave from his teaching position at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.

The National Teacher of the Year Program is the oldest and most prestigious awards program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching. Now in its 47th year, the program is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc. A committee of representatives from the 14 leading national education organizations chooses the recipient from among the State Teachers of the Year, including those representing the five extra-state jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity.

"In naming a National Teacher of the Year, America honors all teachers who demonstrate daily their dedication and love for the profession," said Gordon Ambach, Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers. "At a time when the nation is focusing on the content of education, Philip Bigler exemplifies teachers who are both historians and great mentors."

Although Bigler began considering a teaching career while in college, two extraordinary teachers profoundly influenced his life. In the eighth grade, Sister Mary Josephine at Jacksonville, Florida's Sacred Heart School taught him a love of learning that has inspired him forever. In high school, a battle-hardened Marine, Colonel Ralph Sullivan, showed him the rigor of academics and the reality that there is always more to know and another book to read. "To follow in their footsteps and to help young people in the same ways that my teachers had helped me is both a privilege and an honor," Bigler said.

Bigler makes history relevant and exciting for his students. Interactive historical simulations are the basis of his courses. His students have become members of a Greek polis to debate great issues of the day. While studying Islamic history and culture, they have made a sacred pilgrimage (the hajji) to Mecca. They have argued the intricacies of Constitutional law before a mock Supreme Court, recreated the court-martial trial of Lt. William Calley and waged a fierce computer campaign for the 1960 Presidency. Bigler's students find real history in interviewing residents of the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home; they conducted oral history interviews with elderly and disabled veterans about their World War experiences.

"My greatest satisfaction as a teacher has been helping young people learn to love history and instilling in them a personal desire to seek knowledge," Bigler said. "My students soon appreciate that civilization rests upon the foundations of the past and realize they are inheritors of a rich, intellectual legacy."

"In Phil's classroom learning is real," said Dr. Ernest Fleishman, Senior Vice President of Education at Scholastic Inc. "Phil's students come to love learning on their own terms and that skill will last them a lifetime."

"Scholastic is proud to sponsor the National Teacher of the Year Program because we recognize how vital the role of teaching is to our nation's future," Fleishman said.

Bigler's own love of history led him to take a break from teaching to serve as the historian at Arlington National Cemetery. Even with that high profile job, Bigler realized that he had no greater nor nobler vocation than enlightening young minds. After two years he returned to the classroom a wiser and better educator.

Bigler holds his Bachelor of History and Masters of Secondary Education/History from James Madison University and a Masters of American Studies from The College of William and Mary. He is the author of four books including Hostile Fire: the Life and Death of Lt. Sharon Ann Lane and In Honored Glory, Arlington National Cemetery, the Final Post. Widely recognized, Bigler has received these honors:

Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award
Hodgson Award for Outstanding Teaching of Social Studies
Norma Dektor Award for Most Influential Teacher from the students of McLean High School (twice honored)
United States Capitol Historical Society: Outstanding Teacher/Historian Award

Bigler's teaching career has been in the greater Washington, D.C. area, beginning at Oakton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia--his alma mater; then at the Virginia Governor's School for the Gifted; Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland; McLean High School in McLean, Virginia, and now at Thomas Jefferson. He is married to an educator, Linda, who teaches Spanish at Thomas Jefferson.

Other finalists of the National Teacher of the Year program are Ruth Ann Gaines, 1998 Iowa State Teacher of the Year and a teacher of Drama at East High School, Des Moines, Iowa; Darla Mallein, 1998 Kansas State Teacher of the Year and an eighth-grade American History teacher at Emporia Middle School, Emporia, Kansas; and Carolyn Foster, 1998 New Mexico State Teacher of the Year and a third-grade teacher at R.M. James Elementary School, Portales, New Mexico.

State Teachers of the Year are selected on the basis of nominations by students, teachers, principals and school administrators throughout their states. The teachers' applications are submitted to the Council of Chief State School Officers in Washington, D.C., where the national selection committee reviews the data on each candidate and selects finalists. The selection committee then personally interviews each finalist before naming the National Teacher of the Year.

Jon Quam, Director National Teacher of the Year Program, One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20001-1431, 202-336-7047, 202-789-1792 FAX, jonq@ccsso.org