Nazareth Academy Teacher Nominated for National Teaching Award

Submitted by Nazareth Academy.

Nazareth Academy congratulates U.S. History Honors teacher, Therese Hawkins, for her nomination to receive the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award.

Nominees 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 on June 18, will receive $10,000 in recognition of their outstanding efforts.

Therese Hawkins, both a 1979 alumna and a current Nazareth Academy teacher, is one of only two winners from Illinois. Each participating state is allowed to select one high school and one middle school teacher 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 teachers selected as Behring award recipients are a credit to their discipline, and exemplify what it takes to be a quality educator.”

“Therese is responsible for the level of excellence our students achieve with their History Fair projects year after year. To say that she is deserving of this award would truly be an understatement,” said Principal Deborah Tracy. “She keeps her courses relevant to current events and combines the perfect blend of past and present to bring the level of student engagement to its fullest. Every year, students and parents alike rave about her classes.”

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; award winning teachers also demonstrate a commitment to helping students develop their interest in history and recognize their achievements.

ALSO ON PATCH