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2007 Preserve America Elementary (K-6) HISTORY TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America announce the fourth 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 historic, 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. These winners in turn, become finalists for the National History of the Year designation. The national honoree is recognized as the National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year.
For 2007, all elementary teachers who have responsibility for teaching American history are eligible for nomination. Winners will be chosen based on several criteria.
Qualifying Criteria
· At least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history in elementary school.
· A deep career commitment to teaching American history, which includes local and state history.
· Evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom that address literacy and content beyond state standards.
· Close attention to primary documents, artifacts, historic sites, and other primary materials of history, including oral history.
· Evidence of thoughtful assessment of student achievement.
Eligibility
· Any full-time elementary school teacher may be nominated who teaches American history (including local and state history) as his or her primary subject, or one of the subjects they are responsible for in the classroom.
· Any full-time elementary school teacher may be nominated who focuses on American history within the framework of their elementary school program.
Procedure
First Round: Nominations
Submit the following:
· The nominee’s resume.
· A full letter of nomination that addresses the award criteria and includes quantitative measures of student achievement. Nominations can be made by a department or division head, a school director, social studies director, principal or superintendent.
· A letter of support from a colleague, immediate supervisor, or education professional familiar with the nominee’s work.
Second Round: Additional Materials for Consideration
From this pool of nominations, the state coordinators will select up to five finalists who will be asked to submit additional materials that include:
o A one-page statement of the nominee’s philosophy of teaching American history.
o A sample lesson plan, no longer than 3 pages. Primary document attachments are not included in the page limitation.
o 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.
o 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, and how student achievement is assessed. Students are not present in the video.
Please submit an original and three copies of all written materials.
Deadlines
The national deadline is May 15, 2007. However, please contact your state coordinator because interim deadlines will vary from state to state. Florida Deadline is May 1, 2007.
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 their 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 2007 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.
Submitting Nominations
Any questions about eligibility or procedures should be addressed to the state award coordinator:
Name: Levon Terrell
Mailing Address:325 West Gaines St.
Suite 424
Tallahassee, Fl 32399
Phone: 850-245-0760
Email:levon.terrell@fldoe.org
FLORIDA’S DEADLINE: May 1, 2007
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