Date:  March 12, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

 Brian Bassett, who teaches IB science and a team-taught special education biology course at Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, has been selected as Prince William County’s Teacher of the Year and the recipient of the 2003 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award for the school division.  Other finalists included Phyllis Keiser, fifth grade teacher at Springwoods Elementary School; Lynn Sillitoe, who teaches a multi-grade sixth through eighth grade class at New Dominion Alternative School; and Victoria Wilcox, first grade teacher at Marshall Elementary School.  The Prince William County School Board will recognize the four finalists on April 23.

 Bassett, who has taught IB environmental systems, IB higher-level biology, Pre-IB biology, Earth Science, and consumer chemistry and team-taught biology with a special education teacher during his seven years at his alma mater, designed and implemented two International Baccalaureate courses.  Last year he drafted an IB Honor Code, which is currently under review by Gar-Field’s School Planning Council.  He also created an after-school biology remediation course and a program for students who have failed the biology Standards of Learning test.  His own classes’ pass rate on the Virginia biology SOL exam is the highest in the
school.

A graduate of Longwood College, Mr. Basset earned a M. Ed. in Administration from George Mason University in 2000 and served an administrative internship at Gar-Field.  Since 1996 he has supervised Saturday morning school for suspended students.  According to his nominators, “Brian Bassett has been a leader at Gar-Field High School in spite of the relatively short time – seven years – he has been teaching.  With experience as a student, a teacher and an administrator, Brian….can understand all roles and points of view.  It was a lucky day for 
Gar-Field when, seven years ago, Brian Bassett decided to return to his old ‘stomping grounds’ and become a teacher….Brian Bassett wears his love of teaching on his sleeve.  The kids know it.  They love and respect him for it.  Brian was right.  Teaching is what he was meant to do.”

 As Prince William County’s Teacher of the Year, Bassett will represent the school division in the Virginia Region IV Teacher of the Year competition.