Theatre Arts Teacher Natalie Vandever Named 2004 Triple "I" Teacher of the Year

VIENNA, Va., April 27, 2004 -- Theatre Arts Teacher Natalie Vandever was recognized last night with the coveted 2004 Triple "I" Teacher of the Year Award at James Madison High School. The award, presented by Principal Mark Merrell and sponsored by the school’s Academic Boosters and the JMHS Student Parent Teacher Association, honors the teacher who most exhibits excellence in innovation, instruction and impact on their students. Nine other Madison teachers also received Triple "I" awards (see list below). A Special lifetime recognition award was presented to Guidance Counselor Rebecca (Becky) Barr.

Author and screenwriter James Webb was the keynote speaker at this third annual teacher awards event. Webb, is an acclaimed war story writer with six best selling novels. His original story, Rules of Engagement, which he also executive-produced, was released in April 2000 and starred Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson.

The Special lifetime recognition award presented to Guidance Counselor Becky Barr came as a result of her entire department nominating her.
Employed in Fairfax County Public Schools since 1974, Ms. Barr has been at Madison since 1987, a counselor since 1984.  A graduate of Radford College with a B.S. in History/Political Science and a M.A. in Education from Virginia Tech.  At Madison has taught Social Studies and Peer Counseling; member of the curriculum writing team for Peer Counseling; Coordinator, School Governance Team 1998-2000 (2 year elected position); faculty representative on two principal selection committees; JMHS Teacher of the Year 2000-01; Optimist Club of Vienna Educator of the Year 2000-01; Senior Class Sponsor – 1996 – present
Nomination quote: Nominated by her entire department!  There is no one in education that we respect more than Becky.  Becky truly sees the individuality of each student.  A plea for help is a call to action for Becky!  She provides an invaluable service to teachers as well, by advocating for a student, while understanding and explaining the teacher point of view.  She has performed in a variety of roles within the larger school community, from chairing the School Governance Team to teaching peer counseling for almost 20 years!  An inspiration to all, Becky bravely battled breast cancer several years ago.  She approached the illness with directness and honesty, never losing her positive outlook, persevering through her 3 hour daily commute, and not bothering to hide her inevitable baldness.  In the best sense of the term, she was a true role model for us all!!  Becky is the glue that hold us together.  She is the heart of our department and has made the JMHS community a better place.

Natalie Vandever, 2004 Triple “I” Teacher of the Year
This is Ms. Vandever’s (or V as her students like to call her) third year overseeing Theatre Arts at James Madison High.  She is truly thankful for the continuous support the theatre program receives from the Vienna and Madison communities combined. Last year the Theatre Department was awarded Four Cappie Awards for their production of Chicago! for sets, band, song and Best Musical 2003. Because of their success, Ms. Vandever was asked to participate in the National Cappies Theatre Program that took place last summer at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.  Ms. Vandever acted as Company Manager overseeing rehearsals and performances for the three week intensive performance program. This year, MAD DRAMA has continued to expand. They received 2nd  Place at the Virginia High School League district One Act Festival and 3rd place at Regionals.  They are also actively involved with the Text Alive! program at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC as well as the Dressed for Battle program at the Women’s Military Memorial at Arlington Cemetery.

Ms. Vandever received her Bachelor in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Performance and Stage Management from Southern Oregon University in Ashland Oregon, as well as her Master’s of Arts in Teaching.  While in Ashland, she worked at the nationally renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival and at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre.  This summer she is looking forward to returning to her roots in Kansas City where she will be wed to Stephen Safley.

Nomination quote:  What our theatre program has, that other schools in area do not have, is one thing – Ms. V.  She uses innovative techniques to get the students to set high goals, goals that reach beyond the horizon.  By example and by guidance, she instructs our students on how the make their goals happen. This is the Triple I award, but V not only innovates, instructs and impacts, she also inspires.  She inspires students to believe in themselves and in each other, to work hard, and she always finds something in each student that permits them to look at themselves and be proud.  She is a unique asset to our school.

Webb, who is currently writing and producing the film version of Fields of Fire, which is to be filmed in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam, conducted a book signing following the ceremony.  His novels, including Fields of Fire (l978), considered by many to be the classic novel of the Vietnam war, A Sense of Honor (l981), A Country Such As This (1983), Something To Die For (1991), The Emperor’s General (1999) and Lost Soldiers (2001) were available for purchase, with 20 percent of the proceeds donated to the Academic Boosters.

Also taking part in the program was last year’s Triple "I" Teacher of the Year Victoria O’Connor. The evening also included performances by two Madison students performing short acts and members of the school orchestra.

This past year, some of the projects funded by the Academic Boosters included Character Education requests, funding the monthly breakfast to honor Student of the Month nominees; Theatre Arts to support performances; Robotics Club to provide materials for Robotics Competition; Registration for Journalism students to attend Columbia University's High School Journalism conference; Academic Letters, Pins and Refreshments for Academic Awards recognizing student performances; purchase of materials for Special Ed Department; stipend for member of Folger Theatre to hold a seminar demonstrating stage techniques; registration for up to three Odyssey of the Mind teams; sent teacher representative to National Conference of Social Studies; Assisted three teachers in three different departments in efforts to achieve additional certification in their respective fields; purchased SOL remediation materials for 3 levels of Social Studies Program of Studies; Registered a sophomore in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar - experience to be shared with Madison students upon return from seminar.

Thirty six teachers were nominated for the Triple "I" Teacher Awards and received certificates. The 9 finalists (in alphabetical order) who received Triple "I" awards include:

Gil Fegley
Started in the Social Studies Department at JMHS as a George Washington University intern in 1999.  The following year was hired to teach World History & Geography 2 and AP U.S. Government & Politics.  Prior to teaching Mr. Fegley retired from the U.S. Army after a career as a Judge Advocate Officer.  His assignments included Germany (twice), West Point, Hawaii, the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm and the Pentagon.  While at the Pentagon he worked as Legislative Liaison for both the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense.  His wife, Marion, is a Learning Disabilities teacher at White Oaks Elementary.  Their older son Aaron is a 2nd Lieutenant with the 1st Cavalry Division and about to be deployed to Iraq; younger son, Brett, is a student at Clemson University.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Fegley makes his class fun and interesting.  He has a very unique way of teaching.  His activities are very creative and make history really interesting, and helps cement it in our brains.  Sharing his personal experiences with us truly makes the lesson come alive. He is a fabulous teacher.

Frank Franz
In his seventh year at Madison, currently teaching AP Government, Economics, and Combating Intolerance. Originally from the Chicago area, served six years in the Marine Corps, a graduate of George Mason University and taught six years at Longfellow MS. In 2001 created the first online social studies class in Fairfax County.  Mr. Franz is married, has two Chihuahuas and is a big Carolina Panthers football fan.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Franz is one of those teachers that really inspire kids to work hard and come to class prepared every day.  His humor and characteristic idiosyncrasies, combined with his unique approach to education and obvious love for what he does make his class a high point everyday.  I always look forward to it.

Brad Linsenmayer
Brad Linsenmeyer is in his first year at Madison High School.  He teaches Algebra I and Basic Skills in the Special Ed. Department as well as World History I for the Social Studies Department. This year he has sponsored the Asian Club and served as head coach for the junior varsity softball team.  On his first year he comments, “I wouldn’t trade my year at Madison for anything else in the world.  The staff is dedicated and the community is terrific.”
A native of  Roanoke, Virginia, He attended William and Mary where he earned a BA in History with a Religion Minor as well as a M.A. in secondary education.  During college, Mr. Linsenmeyer worked for the Office of Residence life as a Resident Assistant, Head Resident, and Hall Director. In the summer of his junior year, he studied abroad at Cambridge University when he also had the opportunity to travel to Scotland and Ireland.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading and running.  This June, he is marrying a fellow William and Mary grad, Ms. Alexandra Chern.  After their honeymoon to the Bahamas, they will make their home in Fairfax.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Linsenmayer has created a very open and interesting environment in his classroom.  One particularly innovate technique of his is to post each of his daily power point presentations on the internet so that students can review and study relevant material.  We are lucky to have bright young teachers like Mr. Linsenmayer to work with our kids in such an innovative and challenging manner.

Susan Robeson
In her fifth year at Madison, teaches AP History and AP World History and is the chair of the Social Studies Department. She previously taught in Loudon County for 16 years. Born in Louisiana, grew up as an “Air Force Brat”.  A graduate of Virginia Tech, she is working on a graduate degree at the University of Virginia. She and her husband have three children, Tori, Dylan, and Taylor Ilene. She enjoys visiting historical sites and the beach, biking, gardening, reading and walking their Golden Retriever.
Nomination quote:  Mrs. Robeson is enthusiastic about teaching different aspects of history and manages to get the students interested in it also, which is hard to do at 7:00 in the morning!  Her teaching methods are efficient and thorough which allows each student to grasp the material and understand it completely.  She is energetic, fun, easy to converse with and a great history teacher.

Marty Romeo
Born and raised on Long Island.  Graduated from MIT in 1973 with a BSEE.  Started teaching after 21 years of service as a US Navy Engineering Duty Officer.  Courtesy of the Naval Postgraduate School, he earned an MSEE and Engineers Degree.  Courtesy of GWU’s Fairfax Transition to Teaching Program he received his teaching coursework. At Madison for eight year, has sponsor the Swing, Chess and Investment Clubs and serves as Madison’s Science Fair Coordinator.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Romeo’s teaching techniques, humor, patience, and kindly demeanor make him a student favorite.  He is an MIT graduate who, after years in the classroom, is finally getting his wish to teach AP Physics.  Imagine how great that class will be.  (Teacher quotation)

Larry Saintz
He shows a dedication to inspire students to enjoy science as a way of knowing.  He maintains a Web page for students and parents to reference class assignments and additional teaching material.  He interacts well with students and gets students to be interested in biology.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Saintz has made me love and appreciate science.  I look forward to his class because I never know what we will learn from him or what to expect.  He has inspired me to not only be a great student in his class, but in all of my other classes as well.  Because of him, I have learned to work hard for anything I hope to accomplish.

Gideon Sanders
Mr. Sanders currently teaches 10th grade World History II and a course titled Combating Intolerance.  The Combating Intolerance course is one that has been taught at Madison for the past 10 years.  Mr. Sanders is in his second year of teaching the course, and has worked diligently to adjust the curriculum to broaden the scope. He has taught at Marshall High School in Falls Church as well as a year in the District of Columbia Public School system.  Prior to teaching, Mr. Sanders was a performing clown with the Clyde Beatty & Cole Bros. Circus as well as a kindergarten teacher.  He has a B.A. in both Politics and History from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, a B.A. in Funny Arts form the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College, a Masters in International Affairs from School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a Graduate Teaching Certificate from American University.  Along with the classroom responsibilities, he serves as a representative to the Character Education Committee and is the Head Coach of the Madison Field Hockey Program, guiding them to a 3rd place finish in the Northern Region this past season.
Nomination quote:  I have learned more about history in Mr. Sander’s class than in all of my other history classes combined.  Mr. Sanders relates history to things that have happened to him or that will have an impact on us to help us relate to the material. He is definitely a teacher that truly understands his students.

Jason Switzer
This is Jason’s third year teaching biology at James Madison High School. He has taught Advanced Placement, Honors Biology I, and ESOL Concepts Science. Jason loves being in his classroom and working with the JMHS students whom he finds to be intelligent, conscientious, caring, and dedicated. He works hard to bring the content to life, and to make each day a day to learn something new and exciting about biology. Jason was an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams until the birth of his daughter in February. His afternoons are now spent helping her prepare for the 300 m hurdles, triple jump, and the 800 m run.
Nomination quote:  Mr. Switzer is just a great teacher.  I have learned more about science that I ever thought I would know.  He has very high expectations for us, and helps us work very hard to achieve them.  His enthusiasm for science really shows in his teaching and that enthusiasm carries on to his students.

Beverly Winder
Ms. Winder finds the past 32 years of teaching a “privilege” and still enjoys getting up and coming to school each day. She decided to become an orchestra director instead of a professional performer for two reasons. Her love of working with young people and the need to share her love of music. It is her belief that music is truly “food for the soul” and a language of its own. In the twenty six years she has been at Madison the orchestra program has grown from eighteen to one hundred two students enrolled for the 2004-2005 calendar year! The growth of the program has also shown that the highest expectations will result in the highest achievements possible. The orchestras and individual students have consistently received many awards and commendations in local and international festivals. She says, “When I reflect on the many exceptional students who are now professionals in all walks of life that still either perform or have kept music as a focal point in their lives I am overwhelmed that I have had such a lasting impact on their lives. I am so proud of each and every one of my students.”
Nomination quote:  She has this passion for teaching that spreads like a fire throughout the classroom.  She wants us all to strive to be the best, and she’ll work to make us better musicians and better people.  She knows when to criticize and when to praise.  Many of us look to her as a teacher, a friend, a mentor and even a second mother.

The complete list of nominees is: Ingrid April-Levey , Becky Barr,  Foster Caffi, Carolyn Carroll, Toss Cline, Rick Deltuva , Gil Fegley, Frank Franz,  Greg Garrison, Susan Hall, Alta Harrington, Valerie Howell, Gale Kravitz, Matt Kreib, Brad Linsenmeyer,  Elizabeth Madero, Brigid McCormick, Nate Nixdorf, Julia Olesak, Corrinne Oliverio, Sue Parker, Pamela Rawlinson, Angie Reinbold, Susan Robeson,  Marty Romeo,  Larry Saintz,  Gideon Sanders, Suzanne Savage, Amy Sharp, Jan Starkey, Jason Switzer,  Laurel Vaccaro, Natalie Vandever,  Ray Weber, Beverly Winder, Deborah Wydra.

For more information about James Madison High School, please visit the school’s Web site at www.fcps.edu/MadisonHS. For additional information about the awards ceremony, contact Sue Hamblen at Sue.Hamblen@fcps.edu