BATTLE GROUND — Beth Doughty, a teacher at Chief Umtuch Middle School in the Battle Ground Public Schools district, has been named Washington’s 2017 History Teacher of the Year.
The award is presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a national organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.
Inaugurated in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories.
Doughty’s passion for history has spurred her to to make history come alive in her classroom by creating interactive units that allow her students to really engage with history. She strives to show her students that history is relevant to the present and will always have meaning in their lives in the future.
“Beth successfully involves herself in all aspects of teaching and goes above and beyond for her students,” said Chief Umtuch Principal Beth Beattie. “She is a consummate learner who searches out avenues to extend her knowledge, and she ensures that every one of her students receives a high-quality education while advocating for civic education.”
Doughty received her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Washington State University, where she also subsequently completed a master’s degree in teaching. In 2010, Doughty was named a recipient of the Barringer Fellowship at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and has participated in numerous on-site historical institutes and seminars, including at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, James Madison’s Montpelier, and the USS Midway in San Diego. In addition to her regular teaching duties, Doughty is also the seventh and eighth grade history and language arts teacher for Battle Ground Public Schools’ ASPIRE program, a magnet program for academically gifted students.
By winning the History Teacher of the Year award, Doughty will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be recognized at an award ceremony later this year. In addition, the Chief Umtuch Middle School library will receive a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials. Doughty will also receive an invitation to a 2018 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, a week-long program that offers teachers daily discussions with eminent historians, visits to historic sites, and hands-on work with primary sources. In the fall, the National History Teacher of the Year will be selected from the pool of state winners.
Information provided by Battle Ground School District.
