April 8, 2014
Teach Like a Pirate Author Speaks to Students
The New York Times best-selling author of Teach Like a PIRATE entertained almost 120 teacher education students, first year teachers and ECU faculty members at an event sponsored by East Carolina University’s College of Education on March 26.
Dave Burgess shared presentational “hooks” and strategies for increasing student engagement and creativity. Participants discovered their inner pirate with tales and tips for the classroom during the event. He enthralled the audience with magic tricks, participatory tasks, and humor.
Burgess is a U.S. History teacher at West Hills High School in San Diego, California. He
was the 2001 and 2012 Golden Apple Award recipient in the Grossmont Union High School District and the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year at West Hills High School. Burgess has been voted a faculty standout for 17 consecutive years in categories such as Most Entertaining, Most Energetic, and Most Dramatic. He specializes in teaching hard to reach, hard to motivate students with techniques that incorporate showmanship and creativity.
“That was amazing,” said a participant at the event. “ECU needs to bring him back every year. I can’t wait to use these strategies.”
Invitations were issued to ECU’s teacher education students and faculty members. In addition, first year teachers from the 38 partnering counties in the Latham Clinical Schools Network were invited. The event was hosted as a part of the activities related to the East Carolina University Campus-Wide Teacher Recruitment Plan. Providing opportunities for pre-service and first year teachers to be supported are interwoven within the plan. Each participant at the event was given a copy of Burgess’ book to use in their current or future classroom. Burgess also served as the keynote speaker at the Latham Clinical Schools Network Clinical Teacher Conference on March 27.
A photo slide show of the event is available.
For more information about recruitment efforts for the College of Education at East Carolina University, please contact Dr. Laura Bilbro-Berry, Assistant Director of Teacher Education, at bilbroberryl@ecu.edu. For information about upcoming professional development and outreach events, please contact Ms. Christa Monroe, Lead Coordinator, Office of Professional Development and Student Outreach, at monroec@ecu.edu .