Dr. Scott Culclasure Named 2010 North Carolina Preserve America History Teacher of the Year

NEW YORK, NY (10/22/2010)(readMedia)-- Dr. Scott Culclasure, a teacher at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, has been named the 2010 North Carolina Preserve America History Teacher of the Year. The award is co-sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Preserve America, and HISTORY™.

Culclasure, a National Board Certified Teacher and past Social Studies Department Chair, has been teaching at the American Hebrew Academy since the school's inception in 2001. The Academy's Dean of Academics, Dr. Tammy Williams, stated that, "Dr. Culclasure's flagship course, Advanced History Seminar,"…offers students the experience of working with primary sources to give meaning to history. Dr. Culclasure has carefully selected documents for use in the course which are accessible, historically authentic, and interesting." In his award application, Culclasure stated that, "…creativity, craftsmanship, artistry: these are skills not always associated with the historian. They allow us to escape, however, the tyranny of the textbook in order to see how the past is to a large degree what we make of it and not simply a static chunk of knowledge handed down to us."

Culclasure, a Greensboro resident, will receive a $1,000 honorarium and the American Hebrew Academy's library will also receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and HISTORY™.

"This award gives us the chance to recognize great history teachers across the country," said Lesley S. Herrmann, Executive Director of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. "It puts exceptional educators front and center."

Inaugurated in 2004, the Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award promotes and celebrates the teaching of American history in classrooms across the United States. The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher of American history from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories.

The 2010 award honors middle and high school teachers of grades seven through twelve. The selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including: at least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history; a deep career commitment to teaching American history, which includes local and state history; creativity and imagination in the classroom that address 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.

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About the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization supporting the study and love of American history through a wide range of programs and rich resources for students, teachers, scholars, and history enthusiasts throughout the nation. Gilder Lehrman creates and works closely with history-focused schools; organizes summer seminars and development programs for teachers; produces print and digital publications and traveling exhibitions; hosts lectures by eminent historians; administers a History Teacher of the Year Award in every state and U.S. territory; and offers national book prizes and fellowships for scholars to work in the Gilder Lehrman Collection as well as other renowned archives. Gilder Lehrman maintains two websites that serve as gateways to American history online with rich resources for educators: www.gilderlehrman.org and the quarterly online journal www.historynow.org, designed specifically for K-12 teachers and students.

About HISTORY™

HISTORY™ and HISTORY HD™ are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network's program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, How The Earth Was Made, Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars and The Universe, as well as acclaimed specials including 102 Minutes That Changed America, 1968 with Tom Brokaw, King, Life After People, Nostradamus: 2012, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed and WWII in HD. HISTORY has earned four Peabody Awards, seven Primetime Emmy® Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy® Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History® campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take a Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. The HISTORY web site, located at www.history.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games, podcasts and more.

About Preserve America

Preserve America is a national initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. Detailed information on all aspects of this initiative can be found at www.preserveamerica.gov.

About the American Hebrew Academy

The American Hebrew Academy, America's premier Jewish pluralistic college prep boarding school serves students from 28 states and 13 countries. The state-of-the-art environment fosters academic achievement and strengthens Jewish identity in a residential setting for motivated and high achieving students in grades nine through twelve. The dual curriculum, along with the aquatics center and sports complex, provides a holistic educational experience-nurturing mind, body, and soul. An internationally acclaimed faculty challenges students to excel in a rigorous program that includes Advanced Placement and Jewish studies courses. At the Academy, values and leadership skills are enriched by the culture, customs, and history of the Jewish people. Students graduate thoroughly prepared for college and ready to make a meaningful impact on the world. For more information about the Academy, please visit www.americanhebrewacademy.org.