Erin Boughton and her students from Our Lady of the Hamptons School display their artwork during the Teacher Awards.
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center celebrated the third annual September 11th Teacher Awards. Five teachers who created exemplary educational projects and engaged their students in meaningful discussion to help sustain the memory of September 11, 2001 were celebrated. Although the date of February 26 was carefully chosen, snow intervened and the event was held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
This event honored the initiatives of teachers who have the courage to explore this complex content, and also provided an opportunity to guide how we think the issue of September 11th should be taught in every classroom. The keynote speaker was State Education Department Regent Dr. Christine Cea who passionately shared her September 11th experience both as a resident of Staten Island and as a Regent who would like to see this topic explored throughout the state.
Each teacher talked about their project and was awarded a framed certificate. Through the generosity of September 11th family foundations, each school was given a gift of $500. The foundations that supported this event were: The Gregg Richards, Larry Polatsch, Scott Weingard Memorial Fund (GLS Memorial Fund), The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, The Christopher Slattery Memorial Scholarship Foundation, The Brooke Jackman Foundation, and the Family of Firefighter Michael D. Mullan.
Recipients of the 3rd Annual Teacher Awards
Mark Otto, The Facing History School, New York, NY
Six classes studied September 11th and participated in conversations to help guide the development of the National September 11th Memorial Museum.
Erin Boughton, Our Lady of the Hamptons School, Southampton, NY
Students created a book entitled “Two Planes, Two Buildings, One Nation,” based on their primary source research: oral histories, guest speakers, and a visit to the World Trade Center site.
Chris Ougheltree, Cranston HS East, Cranston, RI
Students personalized the history of September 11th by connecting a “face” with the tragedy and with a trip to the World Trade Center site followed by further investigation of the causes of terrorism world-wide.
Robert Orlando, HS of Computers and Technology, Bronx, NY
Students used museums and media to explore key ideas about September 11th and then wrote essays about their vision of the future.
Susan Lindner, Lynbrook School District, Long Island NY
As part of the science curriculum, elementary students created a September 11th Memorial Perennial Garden with a backdrop of a painted mural of the Manhattan skyline, including the twin towers.
In March 2010, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center will offer an online classroom resource kit for teachers and students. Eight videos reveal personal stories from people impacted by September 11, 2001 and who in response developed projects to make this world a more peaceful, tolerant place. Each story is accompanied by discussion questions, historical context, research links and projects.
This resource kit will be available at the following web address: www.tributewtc.org/programs/toolkit.html.
To be a sponsor of our Teacher Awards or education programs, please contact Josie Chiles at jchiles@tributewtc.org
To submit a project for the 2011 Teacher Awards, please contact Wendy Aibel-Weiss at wendya@tributewtc.org.
