It was not an easy time for that school when he entered. Crook County had gone through five principals in six years. Students' test scores had flatlined. In other words, kind of -- they were just maintaining, which is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to Michael; it should be unacceptable to everybody if we're just kind of maintaining.
And so Mike saw his challenge, and he rose to it. You raised a good guy. Great teachers like Mike are optimists who believe in setting high standards. He believes that every child can learn if given a chance. And so when he became head of the science department, he created assessments for the students, and he put a system in place to measure results. That's what confident, optimistic people do -- say, I'm not afraid to measure, and if you believe every child can learn, then you want to assess to make sure they are.
He knew the importance of parental involvement, so he created family-oriented school projects that would enlist moms and dads in their children's work. I suspect a lot of the Teachers of the Year understand how important that is. And that's why you're sitting out there. And he saw results. In his first two years as the department chair, the school state achievement scores in science rose from 55 percent to 72 percent, and they're still rising.
Great teachers like Mike instill a love of learning in young people. And so he captivates his students -- I told you about his humor, right? (Laughter.) "Did a fine job out here, President." (Laughter.) Well, he takes that humor into the classroom.
He also loves to use music in his classroom, and he has a hands-on science curriculum. So, like, on the music deal, so he turns to songs to get people to pay attention. One of the greatest hits he's used is about gravity. One I like was a blues song written from the perspective of a lonely bacterium. (Laughter.) Like, you can sing it here in the Rose Garden if you want to. (Laughter.)
MR. GEISEN: You got a band? (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, probably suggest you don't. (Laughter.) I tried to dance here one time, and it -- (laughter) -- it didn't work. (Laughter.)
But here's what one of his students said: Mike Geisen "is such an awesome teacher" -- actually called him "Mr. Geisen" -- "he's an awesome teacher. He could make watching grass grow interesting." No wonder you're Teacher of the Year. One of his signature achievements is the annual science fair where the students create everything from electric cars to electric hotdog cookers. The fair culminates with what Mike calls "a legendary evening of science, creativity, food and wackiness." It's not what a lot of people think as a science class, to be frank with you, but nevertheless it's a reason he's the Teacher of the Year. He's found innovative ways to use his innate humor and creativity to encourage students to take science seriously -- and we need a lot of scientists in America.
He also is a role model. You all are all role models. He teaches his students about the importance of service by demonstrating it in his own life. One of the things he's done is he's volunteered a lot of time to raise money for a rock-climbing wall. He is an outdoorsman, as I told you. He strongly has -- respects the environment. And he's a family man. He's a role model because he's a good family man.
Jennifer is here, thank you for coming; as is Aspen and Johanna. As Mike says, he calls them his favorite teachers. Isn't that an interesting concept? They are -- I know they're proud of their dad, as is his family, and so am I. And so we join the Geisen family in congratulating Mike on his well-deserved recognition as the 2008 National Teacher of the Year. (Applause.)
I do want to say one final thing, and then we'll get Michael up here and let him give a speech. This is the last Teacher of the Year ceremony I get to do as President. And as I told you, I'm sorry Laura is not here, because she would share in this sentiment. This has really been one of the favorite events of ours during our time in Washington. You're probably just saying, of course, he says that to every event. (Laughter.) It's always a favorite.
Actually, this is a fabulous opportunity for us to thank our teachers, people who could be doing something else in life and have chosen to go in the classroom to lift somebody's life up, to make a difference in the future of the country.
And so I know you know this, you represent teachers from all over America. So when I thank you, I'm teaching -- I'm thanking teachers from all across our country. I appreciate you making our experience here in the White House a joyful experience. I thank you for making America a more hopeful place. And I ask God's blessings on your work and the work of teachers all across America.
And now, the Secretary and I will give Michael his award.
(The award is presented.)
THE PRESIDENT: Michael Geisen. (Applause.)
MR. GEISEN: I feel like one of my 7th-graders, wadded-up paper here in his pocket, that's all he's got, but he's there, you know, it's good.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President and Secretary Spellings for inviting us here to the White House and honoring us for the important work that we do. Thank you to each of the teachers that have accompanied me on this life-changing journey; teachers that are here with me today, my colleagues, and the teachers that have helped me grow over the years as a professional and as a human being.
I want to say thank you to my family, especially to my wife, Jennifer, and to our two beautiful children, Aspen and Johanna. Your love and support are unconditional, and I appreciate it more than you know.
And thank you to my students. You bring me great joy every day. Every day. (Laughter.) And I wouldn't be here, of course, without them. So thank you to all of you.
I'm greatly humbled to be standing here today. There is no one person in America that is the best teacher, and I certainly don't claim to be that. There are many, many different ways to capture the hearts and minds of our children, and my way is just one among many successful ways to do that. Those of us here today represent all of the remarkable teaching that is happening in this country of ours. We're simply 56 players on an exceptional team of literally millions of educators. So we do not stand here alone today. Plus, you guys are sitting, so -- (laughter.)
Last fall my five-year-old son, Aspen -- Aspen, pay attention, you're in the front row, buddy. Anyway, he told his good -- I have to do this all the time; it's just like teaching school -- he told his good friend, Brady, one day at school, he says, "My dad is the Oregon Teacher of the Year, and he gets to meet the President of the United States." And his buddy, Brady, was all excited. He came running out of school that day, and he told his mom. He says, "Mom, Mom, Aspen's dad is Teacher of the Year, and he gets to be the President of the United States." (Laughter.) He's so excited. (Laughter.)
I actually just turned 35 on Sunday, so I am now constitutionally legal to run for office. (Laughter.) President Bush, with all due respect, it's probably a good thing you're not running again this year. (Laughter.) I've got the kindergarten vote wrapped up anyway. (Laughter.) Depending on some of my 7th-graders, what kind of grade they get, they might vote for me, too. We'll see.
But I think this really brings up a notable quality about children that we often overlook as adults. If they're not sure about something, they will give it a shot anyway. They'll just go for it. Children have this tremendous creative capacity and this natural curiosity about the world that I think as adults that we can really learn from, and that we would really do well to foster.
So often in public education, though, we squander this creativity, we squander the entrepreneurial spirit of children because we place such a high value on being right all the time. We need to realize that we, as the United States in the 21st century, have this unique opportunity, a tremendous opportunity to fulfill an emerging niche in the world economy if -- if we educate our children to do more than just do math, reading and writing.
Students need to know that we value more than just being right all the time. We need to really honor their creativity, we need to honor their desire to learn useful skills that are going to be relevant in a 21st century world. These are skills such as innovation and creativity; people skills, like compassion and collaboration; and the ability not just to know the details but to really see how it fits into the big picture.
This is our real challenge, is to educate the entire child -- not just the left side of their brain, but the entire child.
Each of the teachers that sits here today amongst us is here today because of their commitment and their courage to live in light of this fact: Children are fully human beings. Children are fully human beings. They're not conglomerations of hormones, they're not animals to be trained, they're not just numbers to be measured or future commodities to produce. They are our equals. They're the here and the now. And they are beautiful.
Mr. President, on behalf of the seven previous National Teachers -- Michele Forman, Chauncey Veatch, Betsy Rogers, Kathy Mellor, Jason Kamras, Kim Oliver and Andrea Peterson, and their 385 Teacher of the Year colleagues, and for me and my 55 colleagues here today -- thank you for taking the time in each one of your years of your administration to honor America's Teachers of the Year. We really appreciate it. (Applause.)
By doing so, he's honoring not just teachers but he's honoring America's children. And it is the children that really make life beautiful. Thank you. (Applause.)
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