Mitch Irrgang receives Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award
Pinedale Middle School teacher
July 1, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – National History Day (NHD) announced the teachers selected to receive the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for their state. The teachers selected have shown outstanding creativity, commitment, and inspiration in developing student interest in history. Each state winner is awarded $500, and is eligible for the National Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award. Two national winners, announced on June 19, 2014, will receive $10,000.
Mitch Irrgang, a teacher at Pinedale Middle School in Pinedale, WY was selected as one of two state winners in Wyoming. "This honor has been a satisfying one as teaching this unit is a lot of work," said Irrgang. "Reviewing, making editing comments, and giving feedback on student research projects is a hugely time consuming task. Every year when teaching this unit I ponder how much easier my job would be if I didn’t teach this NHD unit. Every year I also consider how important this project work is to student understanding and obtaining skills that will be necessary for future use in high school and beyond, not to mention a vast majority of my students love these projects! This time spent exploring historical topics is too important to let fall by the wayside, therefore this recognition is another proof for me how truly vital these researching skills are, and once again my past and present students, now totaling about 1,100, are self-motivated and enjoy this performing this types of historical projects."
Kristy Richmond, from Riverton High School was also honored with the award for Wyoming.
Middle and high school teachers are nominated by their administrators, peers, or self for the award. Each participating state is allowed to select one high school and one middle school teachers to receive the state award and consideration for the national award.
"National History Day firmly believes that quality teachers are the best educational tools that students have," said National History Day Executive Director Cathy Gorn. The history teachers selected as Behring award recipients are a credit to their discipline, and exemplify what it takes to truly be a quality educator."
Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award winners are NHD participating teachers who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom. Their work must clearly illustrate the development and use of creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past, and a commitment to helping students develop their interest in history and recognize their achievements.
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