Morgan Hill
– Morgan Hill’s Educator of the Year is anything but boring.
Live Oak history teacher honored for commitment to students, community
Morgan Hill – Morgan Hill’s Educator of the Year is anything but boring.
Brian Oliver, who has been teaching for six years, has a knack for making even the dullest of history lessons memorable.
As a result of his passion to help his students learn as well as his service in the community, Oliver was named as the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year.
“He is an educator committed to serving the needs of his students and their parents,” said the Chamber nomination. “As a social studies teacher, he is keenly aware of the critical nature of service and commitment to community. He possesses that combination of intelligence, passion and compassion that are essential in communicating with students today. Brian works tirelessly to challenge his students, using every means available to him to support their learning needs. He embodies the finest qualities that are the hallmark of a quality teacher.”
Oliver, who just turned 30, had a surprise visit from Chamber Executive Director Dan Ehrler and other chamber staff when he received notice of the award. They sent word that he was needed at the front desk at once.
“They were real cryptic about it,” Oliver said. “In your mind, your trying to figure out what needs immediate attention. They said they needed me immediately up front and everything had to be shut down.”
He received his call along with Student of the Year Brittany Bach – a former student.
Ever since he started teaching in Morgan Hill, Oliver has been involved in activities in the community. He started the Morgan Hill Lacrosse Club teams and served as a coach.
“When they came to me, I told them they would have to have 25 guys to make it work,” Oliver said. “At our first meeting, we had 50 guys. A lot of kids who are not involved with anything come out. It is an addicting sport. You get a wide variety of athletes.”
Oliver received a double major from Old Dominion in History and Geography and received his Masters in Education from Virginia Tech.
He teaches world history to tenth graders at Live Oak. He also teaches two AP world history classes.
“I like that age group,” Oliver said. “They’re a cool bunch to have. For some of them, it’s right when they get their drivers’ licenses. A lot of kids attitudes change then when they get so much more freedom. At this age, they’re still not angry at the world yet.”
The best part of the job is working with the students and watching them learn, Oliver said.
“Everyday is totally different,” Oliver said “They bring so much to the classroom, and I try to feed off their energy. The worst thing is having a class where they don’t bring any energy in.”
But what has really earned Oliver his fame in the educational ranks is his Wal-Mart theory in which he compares the company to a secret communist organization. As the year goes on, he builds upon the mystique. Although details of the project are highly classified, a couple of the projects include creating a shrine and creating a Wal-Mart paraphernalia wall.
“It sort of takes on an alter ego with some of the things in the classroom,” Oliver said. “History can be really boring at times. I’ve fallen asleep to many history books. The way you present it, you got to mix it up. I don’t think history is boring in and of its self, but history can be made to be boring. But sometimes there is not much you can do. Some of the lectures can be boring, because its the stuff you just can’t make up. You got to strike a balance.”
Oliver and his wife moved to California from Virginia in 2003 after she attended a veterinarian seminar in California . She later accepted a position with Valley Animal Hospital, where she travels around helping larger animals. Oliver didn’t immediately find a job when they moved out, but he soon was hired by the Morgan Hill Unified School District. Now they can’t get rid of him.
“Trying to get a job as a social studies teacher is like trying to get a job in the symphony,” Oliver said. “I had a couple opportunities, but it worked out here because they had three positions at once. It was a nail-biter because we had already committed to coming out here. I love it here. I don’t plan on leaving the classroom anytime soon. Maybe if it doesn’t work out I can go back to a bike shop like in college.”
