Local teacher a finalist for nation's top educator award

NORFOLK

Norview High School's Tommy Smigiel has been named one of four finalists in the National Teacher of the Year contest, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

Smigiel, 29, represented Virginia in a field of educators from the 50 states, four American territories, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity.

If he wins, Smigiel will be the third Virginian - and the first from South Hampton Roads - to be awarded the honor in the contest's 56-year history.

"I'm just happy," Smigiel said. "I'm just one teacher out of all of these teachers who have been successful in this process."

A graduate of Old Dominion University, Smigiel is in his eighth year of teaching at Norview, his alma mater.

He taught earth science in his first few years, then switched to a teen leadership course that blends character education, communication skills and community service.

Smigiel was the first Virginia teacher of the year from Norfolk in at least 40 years.

If he wins, Smigiel would be required to take a leave of absence from Norview to serve as a spokes man for educators. H is schedule would include about 150 engagements around the country and overseas, said Jon Quam, the program's director. A selection committee will interview the finalists in Washington in early March, and President Bush will announce the winner in late April, Quam said.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of educators representing the 15 largest national education organizations. Quam declined to name the other 2008 finalists. The contest is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the ING Foundation.

Previous Virginia winners were Philip Bigler of Alexandria's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in 1998 and Mary V. Bicouvaris of Hampton's Bethel High School in 1989.

Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com