The Patricia Behring
Teacher of the Year Award
The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding NHD teachers. Two state winners, one at both the junior level and senior levels, are selected from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Schools, International Schools-Asia, and the U.S. territories. The winners of the national awards are selected from among the state awardees. Each state winner will be awarded $500.00, and the national winners receives $10,000.
2010 Recipients
Lincoln High School, Tallahassee (Leon County)
11th-grade Advanced Placement U.S. History
A national board certified teacher, Kathleen McCarron has used National History Day as a teaching strategy for twenty-two years. She has served as the Leon County (district) coordinator for eighteen years, and during the course of her involvement, her high school has advanced thirty entries to the national contest and well over fifty to the county competition.
Tuskawilla Middle School, Oviedo (Seminole County)
7th-grade Geography
Natalie Gavarrette is a national board certified teacher who has participated in National History Day for eleven years. When she moved in 2003 to a different Florida county that had ceased its NHD participation, she became the new county coordinator and immediately incorporated Florida History Fair into her classroom. Since that time, the local program has grown from one to eight teachers and from 145 to more than 800 students.
Selection Criteria:
- A minimum of five years classroom experience with National History Day and preference is given to a teacher working with an "at risk" population, defined as a student population that has a low graduation rate
- A documented commitment to student-led historical research
- Evidence of creativity in the classroom that exceeds expected participation in NHD
Eligibility
Any full time NHD clalsroom teacher grades 6-12
Supporting materials
- Nominee's resume
- A letter of introduction to the nominee's classroom ritten by the nominee:
- Detailing the value of NHD for the specific student demographics
- Describing the curriculum and how students excel academically because of the historical research
- A recommendation from an immediate supervisor or a district or state coordinator or a parent
All state winners are finalists for the national prizes. The nomination packet will then be submitted for the state winners to the national office. The national winners of the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award, at the junior and senior levels, will each receive a $10,000 cash award.
Noimnation Cover Sheet for The Patricia Behring Award