Thomas "Tommy" Richard Smigiel, Jr., is a lifetime resident of Norfolk and was raised in the Ocean View and Bayview sections of Ward 5. An award winning educator, Tommy has dedicated his professional career to helping the children of Norfolk be successful in school and their personal lives. He was recognized as the 2007 Norfolk Teacher of the Year and subsequently was selected as the 2008 Virginia Teacher of the Year. Also in 2008, he became the first Norfolk teacher, and the third Virginian, to be one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.
Tommy attended St. Pius X Catholic Primary School and graduated from Norview High School. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Old Dominion University, and later received his Master's Degree in School Administration and Supervision from Cambridge College. While attending Old Dominion University, he served as Student Body President and was recognized for his leadership and vision by being named Student Leader of the Year, and was a finalist for the distinguished Kaufman Prize. Tommy returned to his alma mater Norview, and taught science and leadership for eight years. He helped increase pass rates on state tests from 29% to 85%. For his work, he was recognized as Norfolk Public School’s Science Teacher of the Year. In 2005, he developed a program to help at-risk 9th graders stay in school, which was successful and raised the promotion rate. Tommy was an Assistant Principal for six years, serving at both Granby and Lake Taylor High Schools. He is currently the Principal of the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, a city-wide Project Based Learning and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme school.
Tommy understood at a young age the importance of giving back to the community. As a teenager he volunteered during the summer at Tarrallton Recreation Center, and coordinated fundraisers for Operation Smile and the Northside Community Park Playground. He was recognized by the Knights of Columbus with the Young Man of the Year award.
Tommy continued his service to the community as an officer and board member of both the West and East Ocean View Civic Leagues. As a member of the East Ocean View Civic League he coordinated neighborhood clean-ups and edited and designed the community newsletter and web site. Because of his activism, Tommy was appointed by City Council to the Norfolk Environmental Commission and is active in promoting a cleaner, environmentally friendly city.
In 2007, after a gang mob attack in his neighborhood, Tommy worked with his neighbors to coordinate a town hall forum which drew over 500 citizens. These efforts helped East Ocean View get selected as a Project Focus neighborhood. Tommy helped organize and fundraise for Norfolk's Relay for Life. His students were inspired to get involved as well, raising thousands of dollars and volunteering countless hours to Norfolk charities.
He was honored for his work in education with the 2009 Old Dominion University Distinguished Alumni Award. Tommy was also honored by the Norfolk Jaycees in 2011 as an Honorary Member, and was recognized as a distinguished graduate of St. Pius X Catholic School. In May 2017, Tommy was recognized as a Dinstinguished Alumni of Norfolk Public Schools.
He was elected to City Council, representing Ward 5, on May 4, 2010, assuming office July 1. He was re-elected to a third term on May 1, 2018. He co-chairs the East Little Creek Road Task Force and Ocean View Advisory Committee. He is also a council appointed member of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC). He Co-Chaired the Mayor's Commission on Life Long Learning. Tommy serves as a board member on the Old Dominion University Darden College of Education Advisory Committee. He is also President-Elect of the Virginia Municipal League and will be the first president from Norfolk in fifty years when he assumes the President role in October 2019. Tommy also serves as a member of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads Youth Development Advisory Committee. In 2015, Tommy was recognized by Inside Business with a Top 40 Under 40 Award.
His wife Shannon is a Norfolk Public School’s Elementary School Counselor, and they have two daughters, Devin and Erin and a son Spencer. Their home is in East Ocean View.
