Nadine Page Phillips, Mark Keppel’s Drama teacher, has recently been awarded the Alhambra Unified School District Educator of The Year Award of 2024 for her outstanding contributions to the Alhambra Unified School District. Ms. Phillips has been the Drama Director at MKHS for 21 years, teaching acting and technical theatre classes. She is also the Department Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, a title she has held for the last 15 years. In addition to her district title as Educator of the Year, Ms. Phillips was recently named Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year for 2024-25.
In 1972, the California Department of Education implemented the Teachers of the Year Program to begin “recognizing outstanding teachers to provide an opportunity for fostering educator excellence.” The LA County Teachers of the Year selection, spanning 94 days, from June 9 to September 20, is a rigorous process of elimination complete with an awards banquet. The program is one of California’s largest and most distinguished, notable for its prestige and competitive nature. With a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree, it comes as no surprise Ms. Phillips is one of the 16 specially chosen finalists for this year’s Teacher of The Year Award. Hailing from Tennessee, Ms. Phillips pursued acting with an alma mater in Marian University located in Indianapolis, class of 1982 with a degree in Theatre. She then graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, taking her MFA along with her. “An MFA is a performing arts degree that is considered a terminal degree, which means I can teach at [the] university level. I have three credentials: Theatre, English, and a Multiple Subject credential. I received all of those from Cal State LA.”
Until a revelation dawned on her, “I loved my acting career,” she responds, “but professional acting is a tough business and it was taking away a lot of time from my family life. I have three fabulous children; my husband and I have been married for 42 years.” To better bond with her oldest children, it was then that she made the switch from acting to teaching elementary drama in South Pasadena, where they’d attended school. “The rest is history! I love my teaching career and have never looked back.” According to Ms. Phillips, the people who’ve inspired her the most throughout her journey teaching have been her students, “My colleagues here at MKHS who are making a difference in their students’ lives.”
Ms. Phillips has made profound efforts to improve her work ethic and provide a welcoming sanctuary for struggling students. Through trials and tribulations, Ms. Phillips is a highly regarded figure at Mark Keppel High School thanks to her character and expertise. Establishing herself as a favorite among students and staff alike, she’s been revered as one of the best teachers to ever grace our campus. “I am so honored and humbled to receive this award. Honestly, there are so many teachers here at Keppel and in our district who deserve this award as much as I do.” Reigning victorious among 72,000 potential candidates, she reminisces, “To go to the next level with the LA County Teacher of the Year award was very surreal. Through that process, I learned so much about myself as a teacher. I had time to analyze my philosophy of teaching and think about the last 25+ years that I have spent as a teacher. In some ways, it still doesn’t feel real.”
Mark Keppel High School is proud of Ms. Phillips– her unwavering commitment to the arts and dedication to teaching have ultimately received her nationwide recognition as one of 2024’s Teachers of The Year. Mark Keppel High School is grateful for her involvement in school affairs and sincerely wishes her further success as her career progresses.
