The last thing I ever want a student to tell me is that they are done,” says Fairfax High School English teacher Daniel Miller. “Sometimes, when a student gets an A, they think they are done with everything — done reading, done writing. But that’s not what it means. There is always something new to learn.”
Miller applies that philosophy to his own life as well. “The best teachers remain students,” he says. “I’m learning things all the time that make me a better teacher.” That includes studies for certification in educational administration, which he will complete this fall. Miller has undergraduate degrees in English and Russian language/literature, a master’s in teaching, and National Board Certification where he received additional education. Board-certified teachers are considered experts. In June, he was recognized as Fairfax County Public Schools’ 2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher.
“A student can’t just walk into class on the first day and immediately lean back on an A,” says Miller. “I look for the spaces where even the most brilliant students need guidance and then zoom in on those spaces. If I give criticism, it’s so they will continue to grow.”
Effective teachers meet students where they are and then provide continuous opportunities to improve, he says. That belief prompted his involvement with a pilot initiative focused on changing how students are assessed by implementing standards-based grading. By focusing on last-quarter grades, students are given “multiple pathways to master skills” so they’re at their best by the end of the year.
This year, while continuing to teach classes and serve as the school’s collaborative learning team lead, Miller is transitioning to a part-time administrative role as a teaching coach. “I’ve been in the classroom 17 years and want that experience to have a larger impact,” he says.
“In education, we look for the hope makers and the dream believers, and Mr. Miller is definitely both,” says Fairfax High School Principal Georgina Aye. “I’ve sat in on his students’ AP presentations, and the depth of student research, presentation, and analysis surpasses anything I’ve seen in high school. His students are prepared to succeed in college.”
Carolyn Pitches says her daughter, now a sophomore at Virginia Tech, is proof that Miller’s techniques work. “Mr. Miller was my daughter’s AP Language teacher during the pandemic, when it was all virtual instruction. He used every technology option available to create spaces where students could effectively collaborate and connect with each other.”
Another parent, Cara Hardin, says Miller has a gift for building relationships and making students believe in themselves. “He insists that students recognize their own strengths,” says Hardin. “He’s like a great coach who knows his players, understanding that everyone is motivated differently.”
Miller says students keep in touch after graduation. “Usually, the first thing they ask is to follow me on Instagram,” he laughs. “I tell them no. But then I say, ‘You know where you can follow me? You can follow me on LinkedIn.’ That’s where I get to see the full selves that they’ve become. I hope my students never become too satisfied. I want them to keep learning, like I am.”
Feature image by Jeff Heeney
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This story originally appeared in our October 2023 issue’s Teacher of the Year story. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
