Palmer Stangvik’s prime professional goal was to be the best elementary teacher possible and to inspire children at an early age to strive to do their best. This commitment to education was focused in the classroom, by-passing administrative opportunity. His students were lucky indeed in those four decades where the male figure was missing from many families in his school, plus the challenges of those families who were of the homeless, those who spoke no English or those in foster care. By choice, Mr. Stangvik spent his entire day with his students, eating lunch with them and playing ball or outdoor games at recess.

Stangvik has been recognized four times to date in the publication Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2000, 2002, 2004-5 and 2005-6. The nomination is made by one or more of his former students who themselves are listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students or “The National Dean’s List”, which are the top 5% of high school and college students.

Born and raised in Ballard, Palmer Stangvik graduated from Ballard High School in 1954 and went on to he attended Seattle Pacific University. He started his career in the Snohomish School District, 1959 through 1968. He continued at Seattle’s Coe Elementary School on Queen Anne Hill, 1968 through 1998.

He was selected as an exchange elementary teacher to Bergen, Norway, in 1996. Other recognitions include the Golden Acorn Award from Washington State PTA; KING TV’s top teacher finalist, 1988; Class Art Teacher award; two-time finalist for the Golden Apple Award by “Excellence in Education” sponsored by KCTS and Pemco Insurance, 1987,’88,’94, ’96. He was nominated to be the recipient of the Whitman College 1988 Distinguished Elementary Teacher’s Award. These nominations were from his former students and students’ parents from Coe Elementary. In Stangvik’s final annual review as a fifth grade educator, his evaluator wrote: “Words cannot describe what needs to be presented on the final performance evaluation for Mr. Stangvik: Teacher extraordinaire. One has to be around Mr. Stangvik to get the feelings and essence that his presence has made to thousands of students over the many years he has been a teacher. In my 32 years in education I have never met a more caring, loving concerned, loyal, dedicated, committed, sensitive, warm, conscientious, kid oriented educator. Thank you, Mr. Stangvik, for touching so many lives and educating them from you heart!”

Stangvik was associated with the Education Department at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, he served as a Field Supervisor for student teachers and conducts seminars for teachers in poetry for children and geography, and he was involved in the Napa Literacy Program teaching English to adult learners.

Palmer Stangvik passed away on November 15, 2007