1999 MILKEN EDUCATOR
AWARD RECIPIENTS
B. PHILIP BIGLER
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology -
Alexandria, VA
Two years after Philip Bigler left teaching to become historian of the Arlington National Cemetery, he returned to his true vocation: teaching history at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. Mr. Bigler helps his students realize that "civilization rests upon the foundations of the past," and that they are the "inheritors of a rich, intellectual legacy." Under his tutelage, students have debated current issues as members of a Greek polis, argued Constitutional law before a mock Supreme Court, and collected oral histories from residents of the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home. Named National Teacher of the Year in 1998, Mr. Bigler is also Jefferson’s lead teacher trainer.
TOMEKA PATTERSON CAMPBELL
Park Avenue Elementary School - Danville, VA
Third-grade teacher Tomeka Campbell’s many instructional approaches motivate each of her students at Park Avenue Elementary in Danville. Cooperative grouping, learning stations and hands-on activities, all supported by technology that targets Standards of Learning objectives, help Mrs. Campbell’s students master challenging content and develop strong skills. To make parents active partners in their children’s learning, she produces brochures that outline her academic and behavioral expectations, encourages parent volunteering, and regularly reports on students’ progress. Mrs. Campbell also played a key role on Park Avenue’s Character Committee. After locating an effective character education program on the Internet, she conducted an inservice to explain the program to teachers, organized the activities and planned daily announcements.
BARBARA E. CHILDRESS
Echo Lake Elementary School – Glen Allen, VA
Principal Barbara Childress was recently selected to open Echo Lake Elementary School in Glen Allen, due, in part, to the instructional leadership she has exhibited throughout her career. In her former position as principal of Dumbarton Elementary in Richmond, Mrs. Childress established a database of state Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores to help teachers target areas of improvement. She supported her staff by providing each teacher with a diskette that contained key information about their new students at the start of the school year. A pioneer in the district’s effective use of technology, Mrs. Childress led the development of KIDMAT, an assessment tool that helps identify and target instructional needs.
JENNIFER GARRETT HALL
Bowling Green Primary School – Milford, VA
Jennifer Hall does more than teach second grade at Bowling Green Primary School in Milford. Mrs. Hall is a summer school teacher, a before-and-after-school tutor, a reading specialist who shares her expertise with colleagues, and the inspiration behind many school improvement efforts. She organized other teachers to seek out and pursue a grant to acquire laser disks to enhance the curriculum and reinforce the state Standards of Learning. As a member of the school leadership team, she chaired the committee that drafted the six-year plan for the school division. Mrs. Hall has received several honors, including the city of Danville’s Distinguished Community Service Award and Bowling Green’s Primary Teacher of the Year.
GARY WARREN HINSON
Narrows High School – Narrows, VA
Even as Gary Hinson, science teacher at Narrows High School in Narrows, infuses science learning with adventure and discovery, he ensures that the curriculum is aligned with state Standards of Learning. To help students in his Ecology and Environmental Science course develop keener understanding, Mr. Hinson takes them on spelunking expeditions, and has them devise strategies for survival on a hostile planet. He provides his students access to a broad range of learning technology to assist in their scientific inquiries. He also sponsors the school ecology club and participates in conservation projects with the local 4H group. In addition, Mr. Hinson has served with distinction on the district’s teacher advisory council.
DEBORAH A. HUNLEY-STUKES
Hugo A. Owens Middle School – Chesapeake, VA
Deborah Hunley-Stukes, principal of the newly opened Hugo A. Owens Middle School in Chesapeake, is the host of a weekly television show called Growing Up in Chesapeake that focuses on education issues. Mrs. Hunley-Stukes brings to the program over 15 years of experience in the Chesapeake Public School System, beginning as the district’s first teacher under the Education for Employment program. In addition, her experience as work experience coordinator for the Center for Science and Technology and her effectiveness as the principal of Sparrow Road Intermediate School made her an ideal candidate to plan and open the brand-new Owens Middle School as the most technologically advanced school in the district.
RYAN LEE SENSENIG
Harrisonburg High School – Harrisonburg, VA
Science teacher Ryan Sensenig raises awareness of environmental issues with the many science projects he has developed at Harrisonburg High School in Harrisonburg. In his "Coast to Coast ‘98" project, Mr. Sensenig and his students researched water-related data in 15 national parks and published their findings online. To inform citizens about land-use practices that affect Chesapeake Bay, he began "It’s Everybody’s Bay Watershed Project," which invites schools to adopt and monitor a stream, and submit weekly data to a Web-based database. He has discussed these programs on such national media outlets as CNN and USA Today. Mr. Sensenig has also developed modules to teach the geology and ecology of Shenandoah National Park.
BARBARA A. STEPHENSON
Greensville Elementary School – Emporia, VA
In her first-grade classroom at Greensville Elementary School in Greensville, Barbara Stephenson creates a structured, loving environment where young children develop the critical core competencies and confidence they need to carry them successfully through their school careers. Miss Stephenson is a dedicated teacher who combines careful planning and sensitive instruction with a lively curiosity and an enthusiasm for children and learning. She constantly updates her knowledge and frequently incorporates new practices into her classroom. A teacher mentor for the past eighteen years, she was responsible for co-developing all of the county’s curriculum guides. Miss Stephenson’s classroom is typically the first in the school to be visited as a demonstration site.