Meet Jennifer M. Davidson, the ‘2026 Maryland History Teacher of the Year’
Two things are certain about Jennifer M. Davidson: She loves history and Southern High School.
It turns out a panel of judges at The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History loves Ms. Davidson as well. So much so, in fact, they have named the 29-year teaching veteran the 2026 Maryland History Teacher of the Year.
“I am truly grateful to have received this prestigious award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History,” said Davidson, who is beginning her 22nd year at Southern.
“The study of history is critical, now more than ever. Students need to learn not only the events of our nation’s history, but also the context in which they occurred as well as the perspectives of the people who lived through them. Understanding history in this deeper way helps students develop critical thinking skills, appreciate the complexities of the past, and better understand the world in which they live today.”
Davidson taught at Annapolis Middle School and Northeast High School prior to arriving at Southern High in 2005.
To earn the state honor, Davidson had to be nominated and then underwent an application and review process. As the Maryland honoree, Davidson is a finalist for National History Teacher of the Year.
Nominees for the state award must be full-time educators who teach American history, which can include Maryland or local history. They also much have three years of classroom teaching experience and plan to teach for at least one year following the award year.
Judges examine a teacher’s commitment to teaching American history, creativity and imagination in the classroom, and the effective use of primary sources such as documents, artifacts, historic places, oral histories, and similar materials to engage students with history.
For more information about the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, visitwww.gilderlehrman.org.
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(Source and cover photo: Anne Arundel County Public Schools)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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