Memorial Middle School history teacher honored
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO — Administrators at the Marlboro Memorial Middle School, Nolan Road, knew that eighth-grade history teacher Glenn Healy was passionate about his job. That passion has led to Healy being named the New Jersey History Teacher of the Year.

The award was presented to Healy by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York, and Preserve America.

Principal Joanmarie Penney said, "We are all so honored for Mr. Healy; he's a wonderful teacher."

Describing Healy as a student-oriented teacher with a passion for history, Penney said his recognition is an honor to all of the Marlboro Memorial Middle School community. There has been a schoolwide celebration since Healy's award was announced, the principal said.

"Each day during the school year, I have the pleasure to engage in intellectual dialogue with students about our country's past and present. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the students' faces light up or observing the tone of the class discussion reach a fever pitch when students are actively engaged and have ownership in their own education. Teaching American history was the best career choice I could have made," Healy said in a press release.

Reached by the News Transcript, Healy, who is a resident of Ocean Township, said one of the best parts of his job is having an open forum to discuss "this great nation's history."

As part of the application process Healy had to write three essays, one focusing on his teaching philosophy, another on his educational background and the final discussing his life experiences that led to his becoming an American history teacher. The teacher said lesson plans were also required in the application packet, which was due in June.

According to a press release from the Gilder Lehrman Institute, the judges were impressed with the quality of Healy's application, especially the depth and breadth of the lesson materials he submitted.

Healy said he was shocked and pleased to learn of his honor in the middle of August. His students found out about the award from other teachers at Marlboro Memorial Middle School.

The teacher described the environment at the middle school as fantastic. Each staff member is backed by a supportive administration, he said.

Healy, who has been a teacher in the Marlboro K-8 School District for eight years, will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will now be in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year Award, which will be selected later this fall. The middle school library will receive a core archive of history books and materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

"The project recognizes an outstanding New Jersey history teacher each year and enhances the importance of teaching American history in New Jersey schools," said John Dougherty, state coordinator for the award.

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 throughout the country. Every year one K-12 teacher of American history from each state and U.S. territory is selected. This year was open to middle and high school teachers.

Selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including at least three years classroom experience in teaching American history; a deep career commitment to teaching American history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom that addresses 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.

Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History promotes the study and love of American history. The institute serves teachers, students, scholars and the general public. It helps create history centered schools, organizes seminars and programs for educators, produces print and electronic publications and traveling exhibitions, sponsors lectures by eminent historians, and administers a History Teacher of the Year Award in every state through its partnership with Preserve America.

The institute also awards the Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and George Washington book prizes, and offers fellowships for scholars to work in the Gilder Lehrman Collection.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages greater shared knowledge about the nation's past and increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets.