Dave Burgess, an award-winning educator and author from San Diego, California, will give a presentation about his innovative teaching techniques at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Burgess is a high school history teacher who uses energetic and entertaining classroom methods and specializes in reaching students who are difficult to motivate.
He is the author of “Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity and Transform Your Life as an Educator,” which is on the New York Times’ list of 100 top-selling education books this year. In his presentations, Burgess demonstrates practical techniques that incorporate showmanship and creativity to help teachers make classes interesting and renew their passion for the teaching profession. Burgess has won “teacher of the year” honors at West Hills High School in San Diego, where he has taught for 17 years. His students have twice voted him to receive “Golden Apple” awards from his school district. He is currently on leave from the classroom for speaking engagements. His talk, titled “Teach Like a Pirate,” is sponsored by WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Sandy Ballinger in the Teacher Recruitment, Advising and Career Support unit at 828-227-3317.
