Warden teacher debuts in documentary Tuesday

WARDEN - Warden High School history teacher Angie Dorman appears in a documentary about the education system.

"Flunked," directed by Corey Burres and narrated by Joe Mantegna, is intended to pave the way for ensuring all schools in the nation excel, according to a spokesperson.

The documentary debuts Tuesday at Lincoln Square Cinemas in Bellevue at 7:30 p.m.

Dorman said filming in Warden took place last August.

"We just talked about teaching, high expectations, the Gates (Millennium Scholars)," Dorman said.

She noted four Warden students became Gates scholars in the past four years, and two Warden students are finalists for the program this year.

Dorman said students do not have a lot of "transference" skills, from one subject area to another.

"They're writing in English class, but they're not writing in their subject matters in a lot of schools," she said.

By contrast, Dorman's students write papers in history class.

She said the students' capabilities are no different from the capabilities of students in Japan or China.

"It's about motivation," she said. "It's abut high standards and we've got to keep up on that."

Two of Dorman's former students, and Gates Millennium Scholars, are featured in the documentary.

"Mrs. Dorman was a great teacher. She cared for us so much that when I become a teacher, I want to do what she does," stated Janette Escamilla, a student at the University of Idaho. "Angie never let the fear of losing her job interfere with her teaching, which allowed her lessons to go beyond the classroom."

Dorman said Escamilla is in Mexico doing an internship in business Spanish.

Heidi Castillo Dominguez, also a student at University of Idaho, is another former student of Dorman and a Gates Millennium Scholar.

Dominguez stated Dorman's support helped her finish high school when Dominguez was married and had a child.

"She was very proud of Eric and me for working together and trying our best to be good parents," Dominguez stated. "She also helped me pursue scholarships so that I could continue to educate myself after high school."

Dorman said she does not have an answer for how to change education in the entire United States.

"There are no cookie-cutter solutions to this stuff," she said.

Dorman was one of just 50 teachers nationwide to receive a U.S. Department of Education American Star of Teaching award in 2006. She was the only teacher in the state of Washington to be recognized.

Associate Producer for "Flunked" Lauren Zammit, who works for non-profit organization Evergreen Freedom Foundation, said the documentary was funded by the organization. The movie is focused on a national level, Zammit said.

To inquire about tickets to see "Flunked," e-mail Lauren Zammit at lauren@flunkedthemovie.com.