That’s no small feat. With nearly 1000 middle schools and high schools in the state, and with (presumably) at least one and sometimes several history teachers in every school, that’s a big history pond. And if, as we here in the Democratic caucus believe, Washington has the best public-school teachers in the country, then Steven Lawrence was just named the best of the best. Without a doubt, the man knows his history. Not only can he tell you the difference between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution, he can do so in a way that engages and expands young minds. And that’s one definition of a great teacher.
Steven’s award, which is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the History Channel and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, carries with it an honorarium of $1000, as well as an archive of history books and educational materials that will be presented to the school. He is also now included in the exclusive 50-member group that will produce the National History Teacher of the year in the fall of 2012. We wish him the best.
To read this story in Spanish, please click here.
