VFW Announces 3 Teachers Selected for National Awards
Teachers honored for their commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism
February 21, 2012
Kansas City, Mo. – Each year for
the past 13 years, three exceptional teachers have been recognized by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for their outstanding commitment to teach
Americanism and patriotism to their students.
The VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award
recipients are selected from entries submitted by local VFW Posts in every
state, District of Columbia and overseas.
There are three categories of competition: elementary school (K-5),
middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
During the competition more than $212,000 in awards were presented to
more than 1,100 teachers at various levels in the VFW.
Debra Howell, a 4th-6th grade teacher
at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls, Wash., has been named the
winner at the elementary school level.
At the middle school level, Kelly McDermott, a middle school teacher at Hidden
Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake, Minn., was named the winner. George Zorman, a teacher at Mountain
Home Junior High School in Mountain Home, Ark., was selected at the high school
level.
Each teacher receives the VFW Past Commander-in-Chief John
Smart award of $1,000 for their professional development and another $1,000
goes to their school. In addition, all
three teachers receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Reno, Nev., where the
awards will be presented during the 2012 VFW National Convention, July 21-26.
Steve
Van Buskirk, director of VFW Programs, acknowledged, "Next to parents, teachers
hold the key to raising up young civic-minded patriots who will perpetuate the
values that have made this nation great."
BACK TO NEWS >