2006 Preserve America HISTORY TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Flyer and Contest Overview
Sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America announce the third annual Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award, which honors outstanding teachers of American history across the country.The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, founded in 1994, promotes the study and love of American history. Increasingly national and international in scope, the Institute's programs and initiatives serve audiences ranging from students to scholars to the general public. Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve America’s cultural and natural heritage.
The History Teacher of the Year Award, under the rubric of Preserve America, recognizes outstanding American history teachers from elementary school through high school, and the crucial importance of American history education. Finalists are selected from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. Territories. From these local winners, a national honoree is recognized as the National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year.
Teachers of American history at every level, from elementary through high school, are eligible for nomination. Winners will be chosen based on several criteria:
- At least three years of experience in teaching American history
- A deep career commitment to teaching American history
- Evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom that address literacy and content beyond state standards
- Close attention to documents, artifacts, historic sites, and the other primary materials of history
Eligibility
- Any full-time middle school or high school teacher may be nominated who teaches American history as his or her primary subject.
- Any full-time elementary school teacher may be nominated who focuses on American history within the framework of their elementary school program.
- Nominations can be made by a department or division head, a school director, social studies director, principal, or superintendent.
Procedure (see the attached page for specific application procedures)
Nomination packages must be submitted in the following document order:
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae
- A full letter of nomination that addresses the award criteria and includes quantitative measures of the nominee’s performance as an American history teacher.
- A letter of support from a colleague or immediate supervisor
- A one-page statement of the nominee’s philosophy of teaching American history
- A sample lesson plan, no longer than 3 pages. Primary document attachments are not included in the page limitation.
- A sample extended project assigned to students, demonstrating use of primary documents, artifacts, historic sites, etc. Nominees can include up to ten pages of student work in this category.
- An 8-10 minute video, which is not a class session, but a segment during which the nominee demonstrates class projects, and discusses his or her most effective teaching practices.
Please submit an original and three copies of written materials.
Deadlines
Individual state deadlines are determined at the discretion of the state coordinator.
Please contact the national coordinator, Cecelia Hartsell (contact information below), to obtain your state coordinator’s contact information.
Awards
State winners will be announced and honored at local ceremonies. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History honors each state winner with an award of $1,000 and a “History Teacher of the Year” plaque in a ceremony in their home state. The Institute also presents the winner’s school with an archive of primary historical materials, named in honor of that teacher, for use in the school library or resource center. Winners are selected in each state by panels of distinguished history educators under the supervision of the Gilder Lehrman Institute and Preserve America.
The National History Teacher of the Year is selected from the 50+ state winners, (including the District of Columbia, Department of Defense and U.S. Territories) by a panel of prominent historians. The 2006 national winner will be honored in early fall, in Washington, DC or New York City. The winner, together with the nominating supervisor, will travel to the national recognition ceremony with expenses paid by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
SubmittingNominations
Any questions about eligibility or procedures should be addressed to the state coordinator or to the national coordinator:
Cecelia Hartsell
National Award Coordinator
The Preserve America HTOY Award
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
19 West 44th Street
Suite 500
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (646) 366-9666
Email:
2005 Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award Winners
Alabama:Stephanie C. Robinson, Fultondale High School, Birmingham
Alaska: Linda C. Hulen, Bowman Elementary School, Anchorage
Arkansas:Leigh Sullivan, Greene County Tech High School, Paragould
California:Kevin Williams, Davis Senior High School, Davis
Colorado:Sharon R. Rhodes, Dunstan Middle School, Lakewood
Connecticut: Wendy Nelson Kauffman, Metropolitan Learning Center, Bloomfield
Delaware: Darrell Gravatt, Caesar Rodney High School Camden-Wyoming, DE
District of Columbia: Amy Trenkle, Stuart-Hobson Museum Middle School, Washington, DC
Florida:Alan N. Kay, East Lake High School, Tarpon Springs
Georgia: Oliver Jack Collins, Stockbridge High School, Stockbridge
Hawaii:Renee Adams, Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate, Makawao
Idaho:Debra Jo Woodard, Skyline High School, Idaho Falls
Illinois: Kristy Lynn Caywood, A Vito Martinez Middle School, Romeoville
Indiana: Jon D. Carl, F.J. Reitz High School, Evansville
Iowa:Ron VanStrien, Southeast Warren High School, Liberty Center, IA
Kansas:Walt Cochran, Gardner Edgerton High School, Gardner
Kentucky:Virginia Allen Gooch, Hanson Elementary School, Hanson
Louisiana:Jamie Fratello Staub, Grace King High School, Metairie
Maine:Dennis Edmondson, Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham
Maryland:Brian T. White, Allegany High School, Cumberland
Massachusetts:Beth A. Harding, Sullivan Middle School, Worcester
Michigan: Thomas F. Sleete, Southfield-Lathrup Senior High School, Lathrup Village
Minnesota:Mr. Jesse Godzala, Foley Senior High, Foley
Mississippi: Thomas P. Watts, Madison Middle School, Madison
Missouri: Wendy R. Blanton-Kuhl, Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School, St. Louis
Montana: Richard Galli, Bridger Alternative School, Bozeman
Nebraska: Daniel M. Jensen, Waverly High School, Waverly
Nevada: John R.Gilbertson, Reno High School, Reno
New Hampshire:Sean M. O’Mara, Keene Middle School, Keene
New Jersey:Rosanne Lichatin, West Morris Central High School, Chester * National Winner*
New Mexico:Nancy K. Schick, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos
New York:Adam N. Stevens, Frederick Douglass Academy, New York, NY
North Carolina:Ray Parrish, Northwest Guilford High School, Greensboro
North Dakota:William Landry, Central High School, Grand Forks
Ohio:Joseph R. Bellas, Tippecanoe High School, Tipp City
Oklahoma: Amy J. Schulke, Chisholm Elementary School, Edmond
Oregon:James A. Harms, Waldo Middle School, Salem
Pennsylvania:Krista Rosensteel, Mechanicsburg Middle School, Mechanicsburg
Rhode Island:Diane R. Morel, St. Mary Academy – Bay View, Riverside
South Carolina:John B. Adams, III, White Knoll High School, Lexington
South Dakota:Darlene Kaye Telkamp, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish
Tennessee:Don Roe, North Side High School, Jackson
Texas: Elaine Schwartz, M.Ed., Langham Creek High School, Houston
Utah:Rebecca Yvonne Ibarra, Scott M. Matheson Junior High, Magna
Vermont: William K. Olsen, Jr., Rutland High School, Stratton
Virginia: Mary M. Gunsalus, Landstown Middle School, Virginia Beach
Washington:Jim Sawatzki, Bethel High School, Spanaway, WA
West Virginia: Patricia Dillon, Tug Valley High School, Williamson
Wisconsin:John Hallagan, Magee Elementary School, Genesee Depot
Wyoming: Patricia Anne Green, Natrona County High School, Casper
U.S. Virgin Islands:Lauren Varlack, Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas
U.S. Territories:Margarita Kose, Pohnpei Island Central School, Kolonia, Pohnpei Island
Department of Defense Education Agency: Martha S. Drane, Patch American High School, Stuttgart, Germany