Medical Lake's Dormaier becomes 300th 'Teacher of the Month'

Medical Lake Middle School teacher David Dormaier recently became a member of an illustrious group - the KHQ/Eastern Washington University Teacher of the Month.

Dormaier, who teaches English/Language Arts and is the adviser for the annual eighth-grade Washington D.C. trip, was named Teacher of the Month for April during a ceremony at the middle school. He became the 300th teacher overall to receive the honor, and the fourth educator from Medical Lake Middle School, joining the likes of Craig Johnson, Brenda Hester and Sam Peterson. He said he was "incredibly honored to be accredited by the people I work with - the students."

Being the fourth teacher from MLMS is also a testament to the education he and his fellow staff members provide to the students.

Dormaier, who grew up in the city, has been teaching in the Medical Lake School District for the last 26 years. His inspiration to become a teacher stems from an instructor in his youth who Dormaier said "ticked me off and told me I was lazy."

"And I was angry at him because he was right," he added. "It changed how I perceived life and I wanted to do what he did. I wanted to be that factor that motivated kids to change their ways."

Dormaier described himself growing up as a farm kid who worked on cars, and when he tells people he teaches English/Language Arts, they react surprised. He enjoys teaching the subject because it allows him to gain insight on people through their work and writing.

"You can't do that so easily through the other classes," he said.

Eighth-grader Violet Brown wrote the letter nominating Dormaier for the award. Brown, who first had Dormaier as a teacher in seventh-grade, said he is very welcoming to students. She credits Dormaier with her becoming more confident in her writing.

But Dormaier was quick to compliment Brown's writing abilities as well, saying "Violet (Brown) can whip something up in five minutes that would take me two hours."

Although Brown wants to be a detective when she gets older, she will continue to write - something she attributes to having Dormaier for a teacher.

As for his future, Dormaier plans to continue his teaching career until he no longer enjoys it - but that isn't happening any time soon.

"I still get up every day, excited (to teach)," he said.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.