The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named a Maranacook Community High School educator as Maine History Teacher of the Year. Shane Gower has been teaching at the school in Readfield since 1998 where he currently teaches U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History, serves as the Social Studies Department Learning Leader, and is a senior class advisor. He is a Maine Social Studies Community Teacher-Leader, Vice President of the Maine Council for the Social Studies and was selected to participate in the prestigious Understanding Sacrifice Teacher Institute.
Gower will receive a $1,000 honorarium and Maranacook High School’s library will receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Institute. He also has the opportunity to be selected as “National History Teacher of the Year” from this list of state winners.
Nominations can be made by a student, parent, colleague, supervisor, or other administrator familiar with the teacher’s work. To be considered for the 2017 award, teachers must be nominated by Feb. 1. For more information, visit www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.
Started in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. territories.