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Colleen Spring teaches history and is making history as the first-ever Laie Elementary teacher to win the Hawaii History Teacher of the Year award.

She was chosen by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History; HISTORY, which includes the History channel on A&E Television Networks; and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The award program promotes and celebrates the teaching of American history.

For eight years, Laie students have studied American and world history, and the U.S. Constitution under Spring’s tutelage.

The fifth-grade teacher was honored at a school ceremony earlier this week, when she received $1,000 and an invitation to the exclusive 2014 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar led by prominent historians. The library was gifted with a core archive of history books and educational materials, and the site was named a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School.

One of Spring’s outstanding contributions was introducing and implementing the intensive nationwide We the People (WTP) curriculum to Laie. It’s instrumental in teaching the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and democracy.

For the past three years, this mom of six has equipped Laie’s fifth-graders to shine as the first and only elementary school students in Hawaii to participate in the showcase division of the WTP state competition for high school students. In front of judges at First Circuit Court in Honolulu, they field questions and display their skills.

The Sacramento native has also promoted National History Day at Laie, guiding students to create projects that include performances and leading sixth-graders to qualify for and compete at the annual National History Day contest in Maryland for the past six years. History Day promotes higher standards of learning and in the Common Core state standards, it reaches the Strategic Thinking and Extended Thinking ranges.

“In teaching American history, I focus on historical events, but most importantly on the development of critical-thinking skills that allow students to interpret events through analyzing sources. Students learn to analyze primary sources with a focus on their own family history,” Spring said. “I encourage them to compare and contrast historical events to their own experiences, understand the foundations of their own cultures and societies, and gain empathy for others with different histories. This provides knowledge with personal meaning and value, and aids their becoming contributing members of their local and larger U.S. communities.”

Spring, whose children have each attended Kahuku Complex schools, said that, “This recognition reflects a phenomenal partnership of individuals who understand that our students are capable of great academic achievement. They’re people such as Complex Area Superintendent Lea Albert; Robert Buss, executive director of Hawaii Council for the Humanities, and others at HCH; several Brigham Young University Hawaii professors; Laie Principal Matt Ho; and the students’ parents.”

“Mrs. Spring is an extraordinary U.S. history teacher,” said Albert. “Her high expectations, energy and skill serve to create an environment where U.S. history flourishes and student projects are remarkable in quality.”

The 2013 award honors kindergarten through sixth-grade teachers and is administered locally by the HCH. The criteria for choosing the winner includes demonstrated commitment to teaching American history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; and effective use of resources.

“With Ms. Spring’s passion for history, she has the ability to connect with students, and teach basic and advanced concepts,” Ho said. “Her solid professional relationships with nearby teachers and professors promote a continuum of learning and resources. She’s instrumental in student interest and participation, and by providing individualized and team instructional support, her students have demonstrated success.”

Spring earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities and minored in philosophy at Brigham Young University Provo. She also teaches humanities at BYUH.

About the author: Jorene Barut is a communications specialist with the state Department of Education. She handles communications for the Castle and Kahuku complex areas.

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