The Northern California Conference is excited to follow up on David Vixie, an eighth-grade humanities teacher at Paradise Adventist Academy, who was featured in the August Recorder for his nomination to attend the annual Disney Teacher Awards in Anaheim, Calif. Recently, Vixie won the 2005 Disney Teacher of the Year Award. Disney chose Vixie from a group of 45 teachers who had been selected among 50,000 nationwide nominees.

Berit von Pohle, education superintendent of the NCC, applauds Vixie’s accomplishment. “The Disney award is a well-deserved acknowledgement of David's many years of dedication to his students. We are proud of him and know that the students he has taught over the years feel blessed by having had him as a teacher.”

Each of the 45 honorees attending received $10,000 from Disney, $5,000 for his/her school and a trip to Disneyland for a special, five-day event. During this event, honorees participated in teacher training with the Institute of Collaborative Education, attended an awards gala and enjoyed time in the theme park. Honorees also delivered a four-minute showcase, which demonstrated their influence in the classroom and on the lives of their students.

Vixie spent more than 100 hours of work and preparation for these four minutes. “My presentation included a peek into the classroom through video clips that showed how students were being impacted and a peek into my own heart as I shared what I got out of it.”

Vixie’s showcase also emphasized the importance of dealing with the scholastic pressures and family crises that students face. “Unless we address these issues through education and our own heart of caring, we’re going to lose those kids,” said Vixie.

Nonetheless, Vixie does not take credit for his award. “A man doesn’t stand up and receive an award like this all by himself,” said Vixie. "I want to thank Disney for their unselfish support of education.”

He also takes his dedication as an Adventist teacher seriously. “I am not receiving this award because of any natural ability of my own,” said Vixie. “My strength comes from God. Strength is for service, not for status."

Vixie also credits additional resources in his life. He thanks his wife for being an “incredible wind beneath [his] wings” and his students and colleagues for touching his life. “These are all the forces in my life that have allowed me to stand in this position,” said Vixie. “People are celebrating with me because they have each made a contribution; they are receiving the award right along with me.”