November 5, 2007
Educator goes above and beyond
Johnson Middle School instructor Gregory McFall's creative approach to teaching wins him statewide honor.
By FERMIN LEAL
The Orange County Register
WESTMINSTER For middle school teacher Gregory McFall, the key to teaching is simple – make learning fun and interactive, and the lessons will stick.
His students at Johnson Middle School learn about the colonization of the Americas by playing "exploration Twister." They review constitutional law by taking mock bar exams. And they study the Revolutionary War by playing a game of capture the flag on the school's blacktop.
"If kids are having fun in my classroom, they are going to remember," he said.
On Monday, McFall learned that his philosophy for teaching, enthusiasm and creativity in the classroom landed him one of education's top prizes: The state Department of Education named McFall as one of five California Teachers of The Year.
It's an honor he never imagined when he quit a better-paying job as an insurance broker a decade ago to try something more fulfilling.
"There is no greater job I can do than teach," McFall said. "It's a great honor to be named teacher of the year, but there are so many great teachers out there. Anyone of them could have won."
McFall won a $15,000 prize after he was chosen county Teacher of the Year in May. He and the other four state winners will be honored at a dinner in Sacramento in January.
"Mr. McFall is committed to finding what works for his students with limited social and cultural experiences and building upon their accomplishments, one success at a time," said State Superintendent Jack O'Connell, who called McFall with the news.
The other four state Teachers of the Year are: Andee Aceves, a third-grade teacher at San Altos Elementary School in Lemon Grove; Lewis Chappelear, an engineering design teacher at James Monroe High School in North Hills; Michael Allen Long, a fourth-grade teacher at Carmela Elementary in Whittier; and Tamara Reina, an English teacher at East Mesa School in San Diego.
Chappelear was chosen to represent the state in the national Teacher of the Year competition.
The competition is open to educators who teach pre-kindergarten through grade 12. A state selection committee reviews the nominees' applications and conducts site visits to evaluate the teachers' rapport with students, classroom environment, presentation skills and teaching methods, among other criteria.
McFall began teaching at Johnson in 1997 after his wife, Kay, an algebra teacher, helped convince him to give education a shot.
"My job in insurance was satisfying, but I always thought I needed to be doing something else," said McFall, a Huntington Beach resident.
Kay loved her job, he said. She'd come home every day and go on about lesson plans, grades and her relationship with students.
McFall often allows his students to choose different ways to show they've mastered the lesson plans. They have freedom to do reports in a PowerPoint presentation, debates or even homemade movies.
Students also make Civil War-themed decks of cards to play games as another way to learn. Each summer, McFall takes about 40 students for a trip to Washington, D.C., for a "hands on" history lesson.
"The kids just love him," Kay said. "He knows just how to bring out their creativity."
McFall, an avid surfer, also founded and runs the school's first surf club. He scavenges garage sales most weekends for surfboards and wet suits for students who can't afford the expensive equipment.
"The things he does go above and beyond just teaching in the classroom," said Westminster School District spokesperson Trish Montgomery. "It's hard to find another person more deserving of this honor than Greg."