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             FLORIDA TEACHER IS FINALIST FOR HISTORY TEACHER OF THE YEAR     

                                            COLLEGE PARK, Md. - June 1, 2007 -

National History Day (NHD) announced today that Michelle Ortenzio, a teacher at Port Charlotte
High School in Port Charlotte, Fla. is one of eight finalists for the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award for outstanding success in teaching history. The award is given annually to a teacher who develops and uses creative methods to make history interesting for students.  Ortenzio engages her students in the  National History Day program in a variety of creative ways, including hands-on exploration of primary sources, debates, performances, public speaking activities, simulations and technology. Ortenzio emphasizes the comparison of historical and modern events in her year-long curriculum because she believes students must have a solid footing in the past in order to understand the present and the future.  "Ms. Ortenzio utilizes creative teaching methods on a daily basis to connect students' real-life experiences to their learning of historical
facts," said Jennifer Sloan, a media specialist at Port Charlotte High School. "Her students consistently exhibit a deep understanding of the assigned topic and are well able to synthesize historical fact into personal understanding and demonstrate real-world implications."
"She is skilled at encouraging students to explore diverse historical subjects as a means to developing citizenship skills and advanced academic capacities," said Robert Johnson, a social studies teacher at Port Charlotte High School. "Michelle also does a wonderful job helping
students understand the power of primary source materials in any historical study and adeptly guides students to be critical evaluators of all pertinent eventual and anecdotal material."

Ortenzio will be recognized at the NHD Welcome Ceremony on June 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nyumburu Amphitheater at the University of Maryland. Ortenziomwill receive a commemorative certificate and a collection of outstanding programs from PBS VIDEO, featuring award-winning titles.  The announcement of the winning teacher will be on June 14 at the NHD awards ceremony and can be viewed via live Web cast at www.nhd.org. The winner of the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award will receive an additional $1,000 prize.