GLOCESTER – A teacher at Ponaganset High School was celebrated by her fellow educators in a recent ceremony at the school, where she earned an award last year for her exceptional work in the classroom.
Maeve Kennedy was named RI History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History for 2024. The award recognizes and celebrates one educator from each state annual for excellence in teaching the subject.
“One of the reasons Mrs. Kennedy was recognized is because she ‘strives to cultivate important critical thinking skills in the next generation,'” noted Principal Amanda Grundel in announcing the award. “Those chosen have shown to passionately support students and work towards creating a richer understanding of history.”
Kennedy teaches world history and U.S. history to 9th and 10th graders at PHS, coming to the school following a previous stint at George Washington High School in San Francisco, Cali. She received a master’s degree in US history from Providence College and an undergraduate degree in history and secondary education from Northeastern University. In 2018, she was chosen at the recipient of the Rhode Island recipient of the prestigious James Madison Graduate Fellowship.
“She is passionate about incorporating primary source voices into her classroom to help make history come alive for her students,” noted a release on the teacher. “Through this, she strives to cultivate important critical thinking skills in the next generation.”
A ceremony honoring Kennedy was held at the school on Monday, Feb. 24.
Founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis Lehrman, lifelong supporters of American history education, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education, while also serving the general public. The organization’s History Teacher of the Year Award has been presented annually since 2004.
“The award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school and is presented to one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US Territories,” notes a release on the recipients.
Kennedy first learned of the award last fall.
“I am truly honored to be named the Rhode Island Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year,” she said at the time in a post by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. “This award, combined with the energy and motivation I receive from my students in the classroom everyday, inspire me to continue creating engaging lessons that build historical understanding and instill critical thinking skills. Thank you to my colleagues who provide me with support, and the James Madison Foundation for deepening understanding of the US Constitution.”
Kennedy will be awarded a $1,000 prize and an archive of classroom resources.
