Golden Apple Teaching Award

A couple of weeks ago I was informed that I was selected for one of this year's Golden Apple Teaching Awards.  It's a wonderful way to end another year in the classroom and today is the awards ceremony over at the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.  Awards are given to teachers in both the private and public schools here in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.  We have excellent public schools so it will be nice to be able to meet some of the best from that sector.  Supposedly there will be a great deal of news coverage so if you live here in the C-Ville area check out th evening news and the Daily Progress for more information.  You may even get to see my ugly mug.  I will post some pics later this evening.

I couldn't be more pleased that in the next few years I will be spending much more time writing for and working with fellow history teachers.  Next semester my Civil War elective will be beta-testing a simulation for the Valley of the Shadow Project which allows students to take on one of the characters in the database and interact with one another in response to changing events from the eve of the war through to the end and into Reconstruction.  After the fall semester is completed I will be joining the developer of the software in writing a Teaching American History Grant for further development at which time we will set up workshops with public school teachers to demonstrate what can be done with the program in the classroom.  Next February I will run a workshop with my friend and colleague, Professor Robert Kenzer of the University of Richmond, for public school teachers on how to teach the Civil War and the Lost Cause in the classroom.  Given our current project on Ken Burns we will probably focus on how to use The Civil War in the classroom along with other secondary and primary documents.

To all of my fellow teachers, congratulations on another year doing the best job in the world.  I wish all of you a restful and enjoyable summer vacation.

Comments

[Mannie Gentile]

Kevin,

From one teacher to another, may I be the first blogger to extend my hearty congratulations. As you and I know, this is a really big deal and an apex of professional affirmation.

My sister-in-law, an outstanding teacher, was a runner up four years ago, even that brought tremendous accolades to her as well as her school.

Good on you! I celebrate with you.

Mannie

[Tim Abbott]

Richly deserved!

[Kevin Levin]

Thanks so much guys. I really do appreciate it.

[John Larkin]

Congratulations on the award! And I would like to lend my support to your earlier post about getting on with the job and getting on with the marking! Hear! Hear!,
Cheers,
John Larkin
An ancient history teacher...

[Kevin Levin]

Thanks John.