Keeler Tavern & History Center Honors Ridgefield Teacher

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Keeler Tavern & History Center has named a Scotts Ridge Middle School teacher as the 2019 recipient of the Anna Keeler Award for Excellence in History and Civics Education.

KTM&HC will present the award to Tom Broderick at its 2nd annual Fall Party on Sept. 14.

Established in 2015, the award "recognizes a teacher whose passion and dedication motivates students to understand how past events shape the present and inform the future," according to a release.

Broderick will receive the award for teaching 8th-grade students about slavery through the poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America," written by 18th century enslaved African American poet Phillis Wheatley. Broderick worked with Melissa Houston, KTM&HC director of education, and Cheyney McKnight, historical interpreter and founder of www.notyourmommashistory.com, to develop the program.

"The experience of enslaved individuals and their attempts to assert agency amidst trauma is central to understanding America, past and present," Broderick said in a release. "I was thrilled to be working with Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center to deepen our student’s understanding of these important topics, and I’m honored to be chosen to receive this award."

The award is named after Anna Keeler, the youngest daughter of Timothy and Esther Keeler, who famously operated Keeler Tavern during the American Revolution.

All funds raised at the Fall Party support KTM&HC’s full-day, immersive, and curriculum-aligned school programs developed in partnership with teachers for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. Tickets for the Fall Party and sponsorship opportunities are available here.