Keely Green, University of Kentucky alumna and eighth grade social studies teacher at North Oldham Middle School in Goshen, Ky., was named Kentucky History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America at a ceremony on Sept. 25. Green holds a master's degree in history from the UK College of Arts and Sciences.

“Keely’s strong content background coupled with her passion to make history interesting and challenging for eighth graders made her a compelling choice for this year’s panel of judges,” said Rebecca Hanly, state coordinator for the award. “Her school’s test scores in history are proof that what she does works.”

Green received a $1,000 honorarium and is in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year Award to be selected this fall. In addition, North Oldham Middle School’s library received a core archive of history books and materials from the Lehrman Institute.

“This award gives us the chance to recognize great history teachers across the country,” said Lesley Herrmann, executive director of the Lehrman Institute. “It puts exceptional educators front and center.”

Green has been teaching for five years and has taught at North Oldham Middle School for three years. In 2007-2008, she was named the school’s Teacher of the Year.

At North Oldham Middle, Green serves as the social studies content lead teacher, as the academic team coach, and as a resource teacher for the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program. She is also the assistant girls’ tennis coach.

Now in its fifth year, the History Teacher of the Year Award is designed to promote and celebrate the teaching of American history in classrooms across the United States. It honors one exceptional K-12 teacher of American history from each state and U.S. territory. This year, only middle and high school teachers were eligible for nomination. The selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including at least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history; a deep career commitment to teaching American, local and state history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom that address literacy and content beyond state standards; close attention to primary documents, artifacts, historic sites and other primary materials of history, including oral history; and evidence of thoughtful assessment of student achievement.

--Allison Elliott - UK Public Relations