LAPS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – National History Day (NHD) announced today the teachers selected to receive the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for their state.
Allen Andraski, a teacher at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, was selected as one of two state winners.
“This award means a lot to me as an affirmation of all the hours I have spent working with students in the National History Day program,” Andraski said. “I have been the High School sponsor of NHD for the past 10 years. This year I have the largest group of participants ever in my NHD Club. This award acknowledges that I must be doing something right. The National History Day process is challenging for students and for me, too. I have learned a tremendous amount from my students as they have chosen, and worked through their projects over the past 10 years.”
The teachers selected have shown outstanding creativity, commitment, and inspiration in developing student interest in history. Each state winner is awarded $500, and is eligible for the National Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award. Two national winners, announced June 19, will receive $10,000.
Middle and high school teachers are nominated by their administrators, peers, or self for the award. Each participating state is allowed to select one high school and one middle school teachers to receive the state award and consideration for the national award.
“National History Day firmly believes that quality teachers are the best educational tools that students have,” said National History Day Executive Director Cathy Gorn. “The history teachers selected as Behring award recipients are a credit to their discipline, and exemplify what it takes to truly be a quality educator.”
Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award winners are NHD participating teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom. Their work must clearly illustrate the development and use of creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past, and a commitment to helping students develop their interest in history and recognize their achievements.
