Fairfax County Public Schools: South County High School Teacher Recognized For Excellence In History Teaching

Press release from Fairfax County Public Schools:

September 23, 2021

Sean Miller received the 2021 History Teacher of the Year award from George Washington's Mount Vernon during a ceremony on September 22. Miller teaches social studies at South County High School

The award is presented annually to one teacher in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area who brings creativity and passion to their teaching, generates a love of learning, and deepens their students’ understanding and appreciation of history. The winner receives a cash award of $5000 and a fully funded field trip to Mount Vernon for their students.

Miller is in his eighth year in the classroom. In addition to teaching, Miller serves as a school department chair, and he is a key member of division-level teams leading ambitious professional learning and curriculum development to support K-12 social studies teachers and administrators. Recent projects have included co-developing an African American History and Culture for Educators professional development course and designing the district’s African American History elective.

A colleague wrote in a recommendation for the award, “Mr. Miller’s expertise as a culturally responsive social studies educator, scholar of history, and unwavering advocate for students’ needs has fostered important and overdue change in our system, within and well beyond his classroom.”

Allison Wickens, Mount Vernon's Vice President for Education, says, “Mount Vernon is indebted to great history teachers. It is our honor each year to champion leaders in this field. We are proud to showcase the importance of their work and the lasting impact of their daily efforts.”

The award review panel was made up of teachers from around the country who serve as teacher facilitators for George Washington Teacher Institute programming that supports Mount Vernon’s mission and vision in schools across the country.

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year award. 

This press release was produced by Fairfax County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.