Two local history teachers nominated for national award

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is congratulating two dedicated teachers in American Samoa, nominees for the national Patricia Behring History Teacher of the Year award.

Ms. Latalata Samuelu, a teacher at Leone High School and Ms. Christian Saalea, a teacher at Tafuna High School were nominated in the senior division of the National History Day (NHD) National Contest. This award is sponsored by Patricia Behring in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students. NHD is sponsored by both private and public sources, including the federal government through the National Park Service and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“Congratulations to both of these outstanding teachers, as their dedication represents all of American Samoa’s educators,” Congresswoman Amata said. “Teaching history in a memorable way is so important. I’m delighted to share and highlight this information from NHD, and join everyone in our American Samoa Department of Education in congratulating you, and more importantly, thanking you for doing a great job teaching our young people.”

American Samoa is one of 58 places eligible to nominate one middle school and one high school teacher. As nominees, they will receive $500 from NHD and be considered for the nationwide $10,000 award.

NHD stresses that every nominee is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest.

“This award recognizes the very best educators from across the nation and beyond,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn in the organization’s Monday announcement. “These educators are leaders and innovators in the teaching of history, and we are all the more impressed because of the extended difficult teaching circumstances due to the pandemic during the last year. I wish to congratulate both Ms. Samuelu and Ms. Saalea on their well-deserved nominations.”

The national winner will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians, and announced on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the National History Day National Contest Awards Ceremony to be held virtually due to COVID-19. Nominees’ work must clearly illustrate the development and use of creative teaching methods that engage students in history, and help them make exciting discoveries about the past. 

ABOUT NATIONAL HISTORY DAY

NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or …