Social Studies Teacher 'Wows' in Earning Statewide Award

It very well could have been another school district recently celebrating Kristen Borges’ honor.

The history teacher was honored with the William Spratt Award for outstanding teaching at the secondary level by the Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies.

But she almost didn’t even make it to Hamilton.

Kevin O’Reilly, history and social sciences curriculum coordinator, and the principal had decided on a candidate for an open position seven years ago. When O’Reilly got back to his office, he had an e-mail from Borges and decided to grant her an interview.

“I was in the principal’s office and we had picked someone,” O’Reilly explained. “I went back and asked the principal if we can wait (on the decision) for a minute. It was very last minute.”

And as she has done in her seven years since, Borges wowed O’Reilly – who nominated her for the award - in the interview and is now a mainstay at the school.

“The award is really nice because it is given by an organization that I think is very important for a social studies teacher to belong to,” said Borges. “It is nice to be recognized by an organization like that and to be validated by your colleagues who are working just as hard as you do.”

Borges, who teaches grade 10 U.S and World History, grades 10-12 World Affairs and International Issues, and grade 12 AP U.S. History, also deflected her praise to O’Reilly and her co-workers at the high school.

“A lot of me (being honored) had to do with Kevin’s kind words (on the application). I value the work at Hamilton-Wenham, under the guidance of Kevin, in an environment that values and respects social studies education and the professionalism all my colleagues share.”

It wasn’t only a few flattering words by O’Reilly on an application that titled the scale in her honor. She is an innovative teacher who keeps her students interested and wanting to learn more.

O’Reilly, who said he observed her 25-30 times recently, pointed out three specific areas where she excels: leading a discussion, using primary sources (instead of having a student read information in a book), and media literacy (asking a student to evaluate what they are looking at, listening to and reading online).

“It's not just her creativity that separates her, but her depth of knowledge and to use that effectively is amazing,” O’Reilly said.

Borges said many from her childhood would not be surprised that she is a teacher since she was always playing school while growing up in Fall River. But she said she “fell into” teaching when she went to graduate school for teaching after earning a political science degree.

“I thought (teaching) would be temporary, but as soon as I went into it I knew it was the correct thing for me,” said Borges, now in her 17th year as a teacher after 10 in an urban Minneapolis classroom. “This award validates my career choice and the work I do every day with the kids. I love teaching.”

She said she will cherish this for all those who work hard everyday to teach children.

“It is nice to be recognized. It is not something I expected, so that is nice,” she said. “I think it is great anytime a teacher gets recognized for the work they are doing. There are many teachers out there who don’t get the recognition they deserve.

“A recognition is usually from students – a note or a thank you at the end of a class or a lesson. That is usually enough. This is the frosting on the cake.”