2009 History Teacher of the Year Award Competition

10/31/2008 11:13:00 AM

The Gilder Lehrman Institute has announced that they are again sponsoring the History Teacher of the Year competition. Each state will select a teacher as its state winner to compete for the national award. Oregon’s 2008 winner was Ernie Sowards who teaches at William P. Lord High School at in Woodburn. This year’s competition is limited to elementary teachers, grades K-6. State winners receive a check for $1,000.00 and an archive of primary historical materials for their school.

Teachers should be nominated using the following criteria:

At least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history in an 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.

To nominate a teacher, please submit the following:

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.
Nominations from friends, family, and students or parents will also be accepted.
The nominee's resume.

In accordance with Oregon ethics laws, teachers can neither nominate themselves nor can they solicit their nomination.

Please send completed nomination materials by February 15, 2009 to:
Andrea Morgan
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97310-0203;
FAX 503-378-5156
andrea.morgan@state.or.us eMail

Please contact Andrea Morgan if you have questions or concerns.

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