Chico Enterprise Record - Features -
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Published on: 8/22/2005
Last Visited: 8/23/2005
A reason for respect: In Innerview, Disney Teacher of the Year, David Vixie, explains his creativity
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David Vixie talks about his approach to teaching in his Paradise backyard Aug. 4.Vixie, named the Disney Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Middle Teacher of the Year, received $40,000 and Paradise Adventist School where he teaches will receive $5,000.(Bill Husa/Enterprise-Record)
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David Vixie, an eighth-grade teacher at Paradise Adventist Academy, was one of the 45.He remembers an awkward moment during the presentations."A teacher got up and started to sing a song.He was playing an acoustic guitar.But then his voice gave out.Without missing a beat, the rest of us picked up on the song and started singing it for him."
It was an example of the "tremendous collegiality" that can exist among teachers, Vixie said."This is the spirit that needs to pervade all of education."He keeps that in mind whenever he thinks about the ramifications of doing well in a contest with other teachers.
Vixie was a double winner.He was named the Disney Teacher of the Year and received the award for Outstanding Middle School Teacher.He said the event is obviously a competition, but the response of his colleagues to the teacher who lost his voice helped him understand that his role should be to speak for all teachers.
The Walt Disney Co., through an outreach organization called DisneyHand, singles out teachers who show creativity and use innovative methods to inspire their students.Vixie said he does this by "taking things that are normal and ordinary and using them in new ways."He believes teachers should be free to borrow ideas from each other and use them in ways that fit their own style."Each teacher doesn't need to re-invent teaching."
Nevertheless, Vixie has invented some of his teaching methods on the spot.He recalled a day in his classroom when he was giving a lesson about World War I. "There was some rope in a corner.
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Vixie agrees "a time of tremendous upheaval.They are leaving behind childhood and its incredible favors, but they have not yet been granted the favors of adulthood.The purpose of being 14, 15 and 16 is to develop independence, but not sever ties with the people you need to be dependent on."
Vixie said middle school students need opportunities to explore being on their own, but they still need enough supervision so they can feel safe.He said at this age they are starting to have to deal with the consequences of their actions, yet their mistakes "haven't become part of their permanent record."
He said he feels fortunate that he has a self-contained class.All of his eighth-graders are with him throughout the day.Traditionally, "when middle school students change classes, they don't spend much time with any one adult," he said.
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In the classroom, Vixie said he "absolutely thrives on" hearing two things."The first is 'Oh, I get it.' The second is, 'so what will happen if I do this?'"
Middle students have a reputation for being unruly.Vixie said his classroom is "well-managed," but he doesn't use intimidation to maintain order.He found out early it was a bad approach.
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