University School of Milwaukee Teacher Named National History Day Teacher of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chuck Taft
Milwaukee, WI - The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce that Chuck Taft, an eighth-grade teacher at the University School of Milwaukee (USM) in Milwaukee has won the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for the junior division (grades 6-8) at the National History Day Contest. As the winner of this award, Mr. Taft will receive $10,000.
“We are proud of the work Mr. Taft has done for the Wisconsin National History Day Contest,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “His dedication to coaching students has helped grow their love of history and his students have developed invaluable critical thinking and analytic skills which they can apply throughout their academic careers and lives.”
Each of the 58 National History Day affiliates could nominate one middle school teacher for this award, and Mr. Taft was the nominee from Wisconsin. Mr. Taft has been part of the National History Day program for 15 years and he has created and developed resources that help students make connections between historic events and figures and the modern issues in their lives.
“Mr. Taft shows a level of enthusiasm for history education that is wholly embraced by his students,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “He excites and inspires his students to ask the crucial questions about past events and how they connect with where we are today. He is an exceptional example for all National History Day teachers to emulate. I congratulate Mr. Taft for winning this award.”
Taft was presented the award during National History Day’s live-streamed National Contest Awards Ceremony on June 20, 2020. The annual competition and ceremony took place as scheduled this year, but were conducted remotely due to measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The award is sponsored by Patricia Behring, widow of the late Kenneth E. Behring, who previously sponsored the National History Day National Contest for many years.
For more information about National History Day in Wisconsin visit wisconsinhistory.org.