Siegfried “Zig” Engelmann passed away on February 15, 2019. Much of his life was dedicated to improving the future of all children, and by extension, society. This page is designed to be an ongoing tribute to Zig. It includes testimonies gathered after his death, links to videos of his work, and other links to information about Zig. It will be updated periodically. If you come across items you think should be added to this page, please forward them to info@nifdi.org
November 26, 1931 – February 15, 2019
Siegfried “Zig” Engelmann died peacefully at his home in Eugene on February 15 of heart failure with his life partner of 35 years, Lou Bradley, by his side.
Zig was born on November 26, 1931 in south Chicago, the second of three sons of Victor and Rose Engelmann. He was raised in his house with his grandfather, George Engelmann, a German immigrant who came to the United States in 1865. Zig graduated from Fenger High School in 1949. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and met his future wife. He married Therese Piorkowski in 1953 and divorced in 1984. They had four children, moving to Oregon in 1970.
A pioneering scientist and educator for more than 50 years, Zig invented Direct Instruction (DI), an efficient and effective way to teach any skill. The first DI programs Zig developed focused on teaching foundational skills in reading, writing and math. As a professor of education at the University of Oregon and founder of the National Institute for Direct Instruction, he attracted graduate students from around the world. He eventually wrote more than 100 programs covering the core academic subjects from preschool to high school along with a variety of other important subjects. Millions of at-risk children learned when taught by teachers trained in DI, often when nothing else worked. He never gave up on a child or blamed children for the failings of the instruction they received. He lived by his motto: “If the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.”
Soon after Zig arrived in Oregon, he purchased 120 acres of logged property, which started his non-professional mission as a steward of the land. On most weekends, during the growing seasons, he and his sons (and later, he and his life partner) cleared trails and pruned trees. During trees’ dormant months, they planted trees – lots of trees of many different varieties. If Zig wasn’t working or riding one of his many motorcycles, he was on the land caring for trees and enjoying nature. Today, thousands of trees flourish in forests around Lane County because of Zig’s stewardship.
He is survived by his brothers, Manfred and Gerhardt (Mary Ann), children Eric (Annette), Kurt (Dianna), Owen (Charlene) and Joyce, 13 grandchildren, four great grandchildren, his life partner Lou and her son, Devin.
There will be a memorial to celebrate Zig’s life at 1pm on April 13 at Venue 252, 252 Lawrence St., Eugene, Oregon, with a reception to follow.
Donations in Zig’s name can be made to the Engelmann Foundation, PO Box 448, Eugene, Oregon, 97440 or to the McKenzie River Trust.
Click here to read others' memories of Zig or to add your own.
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Speakers Prepared Comments:
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Biography of Zig Engelmann (Video)
A Conversation with Zig Engelmann (2008) (Video)
Zig's 4 year old twins showing off math skills (Video)
Kindergartners showing off their math skills (Video)
pdf
Zig's Vita
- 5/01/19
2021 Biography on Siegfried Engelmann (PDF)
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pdf Zig’s Web by Anayezuka Ahidiana - 3/25/19
Memorial set for Direct Instruction creator ‘Zig’ Engelmann from AroundtheO (Article) - 4/19/19
So Long, Zig by Greg Ashman (Article) - 4/19/19
Siegfried Engelmann, a Life Well-Lived by Linda Diamond, President of CORE (Article) - 4/19/19
Remembering Siegfried ‘Zig’ Engelmann’s legacy of learning and adventure from The Register-Guard (Article) - 4/19/19
Renowned UO prof Siegfried ‘Zig’ Engelmann left a legacy of learning from The Oregonian (Article) - 4/19/19
ID: a new balance to ponder from Le Devoir (Article) - 4/22/19
pdf A Tribute to Ziggy by Susan Rice Moses - 4/22/19
pdf A Reflection by Linda Heiderer - 4/22/19
pdf Reflection for Zig Engelmann by John Aeschbury, Executive Director, The DART Center - 4/22/19
We Love You Zig by African Preparatory School (Video) - 4/23/19
pdf Siegfried Engelmann’s legacy: teach first and ask questions later from The Australian - 4/26/19
Whether you’re an instructional coach, peer coach, or another administrator responsible for improving student performance, one of the most critical roles in a successful Direct Instruction implementation is the Coach. With good, careful coaching, teachers will become more skilled and proficient in teaching the DI programs, and students will excel with improved instruction.
In an implementation that does not incorporate high-quality coaching, some teachers will become stars, but others may demonstrate little to no improvement, keeping the implementation as a whole from achieving a high level of success. With effective coaching, staff development, and strong leadership, teachers using Direct Instruction will improve dramatically, and students will progress farther and faster than they ever have before.
This Institute will equip building and district-level instructional coaches, peer coaches, lead teachers and mentor teachers with critical coaching and support skills.
Participants will learn how to:
Return to the National Direct Instruction Conference and Institutes page.
This Institute is designed for participants interested in integrating Direct Instruction (DI) and findings from the science of learning into the teacher preparation programs at their colleges and universities. Based on our collective experience, we have identified several compelling reasons to introduce teacher candidates to Direct Instruction:
At the conclusion of this Institute, participants will be prepared to examine their existing teacher preparation programs and integrate coursework and fieldwork focused on Direct Instruction within the framework of the science of learning.
The Institute will address the following:
Meet the Presenters
Marcy Stein, Professor Emeritus
School of Education, University of Washington Tacoma
Dr. Marcy Stein is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington Tacoma, where she was one of the founding faculty members of the School of Education. She has published extensively in the areas of teacher preparation, reading and mathematics instruction, curriculum analysis, and textbook adoption. She is the lead author of Direct Instruction Mathematics. Marcy has incorporated DI methodology into both reading and mathematics methods courses and practica for teacher certification students throughout her career.
mstein@uw.edu
Diane Kinder, Professor Emeritus
School of Education, University of Washington Tacoma
Dr. Diane Kinder is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington Tacoma. Her career has focused on teaching and preparing teachers. She has taught general education and special education at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in addition to teaching for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. She started the first Direct Instruction School in Portland, Oregon. After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Oregon, she was the undergraduate coordinator of special education at Northern Illinois University. At the University of Washington Tacoma, she and Dr. Stein developed the dual-track special-elementary education certification program and received an OSEP 325T grant to revise and enhance their program and develop partnerships with local schools using Direct Instruction.
dkinder@uw.edu
Return to the National Direct Instruction Conference and Institutes page.
