Deener is Kentucky's 2018 History Teacher of the Year
April Deener, a teacher at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School, is recipient of Kentucky's 2018 History Teacher of the Year award, an honor the Gilder Lehrman Institute (GLI) of American History presents annually. Deener received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 2002 and a master’s degree from Georgetown College in 2008, both in middle school education. She has taught 8th grade social studies at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington since 2010.
Deener encourages active learning in her students and the development of everyday skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and communication. She makes history exciting and vibrant for her students with the intention that they will become active and responsible citizens and leaders in their communities. As Kentucky’s History Teacher of the Year, Deener receives a $1,000 honorarium and an invitation to a 2019 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, a weeklong program that offers teachers daily discussions with eminent historians, visits to historic sites and hands-on work with primary sources. She also is among the pool eligible for the National History Teacher of the Year award. The Edythe J. Hayes Middle School library will receive a core archive of American history books and GLI educational materials.
The History Teacher of the Year Award started in 2004 to highlight the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US Territories. Nominations for the 2019 History Teacher of the Year awards are open. Students, parents, colleagues and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award at gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy. Nomination deadline for the 2019 award is March 30, 2019.