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National History Day - Richard T. Farrell Award

National History Day is pleased to announce the 2008 Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award for innovative history teaching. The award recognizes outstanding teachers at the state level and one exceptional history teacher at the national level who will receive a cash prize during the National History Day contest in June. The eight finalists for this award will also be recognized at the national level, and each will receive a PBS video library.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible, a teacher must be a participant in the National History Day program and be nominated by the state History Day coordinator. The evaluation criteria are as follows:
  • Development and use of creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past. Examples could include:
    • Active learning projects, such as mock debates or oral history projects.
    • Innovative use of primary sources.
    • Integrated communication technology in history research and classroom learning.
    • Teaching methods which link history to students' broader interests (e.g., using interdisciplinary approaches to historical topics of by developing projects which link history to current events, debates, and issues).
    • The use of teaching methods which build a range of skills in students as they study history.
  • Exemplary commitment to helping students develop their interest in history and recognize their achievements. Examples could include:
    • Exemplary support and guidance for students working on History Day projects.
    • Assistance in helping students showcase their history projects within the community and/or publish their material.
    • Overall commitment to the intellectual development of individual students.
    • Encouragement of student to use their understanding of history to become engaged, informed citizens in their community and beyond.
NOMINATION PROCEDURES
  1. Interested teachers should contact their state History Day coordinator.
  2. The state coordinator will select the State History Day Teacher of the Year and write a letter of nomination for that person. In addition, the nominee should provide the state coordinator with three (3) letters of recommendation in support of the nomination. The letters should address the criteria provided above and be written by those who know the nominee well and can give specific examples of excellence in history teaching.
  3. The teacher nominee will submit a personal statement how NHD enriches the curriculum in his/her classroom.
  4. The state coordinator will submit the nomination packet, including
    1. The completed coversheet with contact information
    2. The state coordinator's letter of nomination
    3. A current resume of the nominee
    4. Personal statement from the nominee
    5. Three letters of recommendation/support for the nominee


The deadline for the selection of State History Day Teachers of the Year and the forwarding of their files to the national office of National History Day for review is May 1, 2008. The Richard Farrell Teacher of Merit Award winner, along with the eight finalists, will be announced at the National History Day awards ceremony.