CREC Magnet School Teacher Named History Teacher of the Year
Second Annual Award to be Presented Friday to Wendy Nelson Kauffman

Released: September 26, 2005

(Greater Hartford) – Wendy Nelson Kauffman of West Hartford has been named Connecticut’s History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America.  Nelson Kauffman is a history teacher at the CREC Metropolitan Learning Center, a magnet middle and high school serving the towns of Bloomfield, East Windsor, Enfield, Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks.

Connecticut’s State Historian, Walter Woodward, and Daniel W. Gregg, social studies consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Education, will present the award to Nelson Kauffman on Constitution Day, Friday, Sept. 16, at 11:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the magnet school, located at 1551 Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield.

This is the second year of the award, which recognizes outstanding American history teachers from elementary through high school in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories.  From these local winners, a national honoree is recognized as the National Preserve America History Teacher of the year.

This year marks Nelson Kauffman’s tenth year of teaching American history.  At least three years of experience is required for consideration.  Nominations are solicited from department heads, school directors and principals, who must provide a letter of support.  A one-page statement of the candidate’s educational philosophy is required.

“My job is to find what ignites them.  My teaching approach centers on the passion that I have both for history and for teaching students, so that they too can be excited about being life-long learners.  But my enthusiasm is not always enough to kindle the flame.  My teaching approach also has to make my subject come alive and be relevant for them,” Nelson Kauffman wrote in her philosophy statement.  “I look for connections between the curriculum and current events, and I use analogies from their teenage lives to explain historical events…My students learn by doing.  As part of my class we have put Socrates on trial, ridden bikes through Bloomfield to study local history, acted out an original ‘robber baron’ play, and conducted oral history interviews.”

Candidates must also demonstrate a deep career commitment to teaching American history; creativity and imagination in the classroom; and close attention to documents, artifacts, historic sties and other primary materials of history.

“Wendy’s commitment to teaching American history is passionate and infectious.  Students thrive on the experiences she provides with primary sources, historical site visits and innovative classroom exercises,” said Principal Anne McKernan.

Nelson Kauffman will receive a $1,000, a plaque and an archive of primary historical materials for the school library.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in history/social studies from Southern Connecticut State University.

About CREC
CREC is a non-profit, regional educational service center serving 35 Greater Hartford public school districts.  It was founded in 1966 by local school districts working together to solve common problems.  Today, CREC administers more than 120 programs and services spanning the entire educational spectrum with the same goal in mind.  CREC’s Division of Magnet Schools strives to offer the highest quality educational opportunities that reduce racial, ethnic and socio-economic isolation of students by initiating, developing and managing innovative educational programs.  For more information on CREC and the Metropolitan Learning Center, please visit www.crec.org/mlc.