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Joseph Webber Teacher Prize

Missouri nominee for the NHD Richard Farrell Teacher of Merit Award

Eligibility/Criteria:

Missouri's Webber prize [$350] is awarded every April at the National History Day in Missouri state contest. To be eligible, a teacher must be a participant in the NHDMO program. Interested teachers should contact their regional coordinator (see Missouri regions on the NHDMO main page) by November 1, providing him/her with three letters of recommendation supporting the nomination and addressing the following NHD criteria:

  1. Development and use of creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past. Examples could include, but are not limited to, such things as:
    • active learning projects within and outside the classroom, such as mock debates with the students assuming the roles of real people, or oral history projects within their communities;
    • innovative use of primary sources in the classroom;
    • the use of communications technology in history research and classroom learning;
    • the practice of teaching methods which link history to students' broader interests, for example, by using interdisciplinary approaches to historical topics or by developing projects which link history to current events and debates;
    • the use of teaching methods which build a range of skills in students as they study history.

  2. Exemplary commitment to helping students develop their interest in history and recognizing their achievements. Examples could include, but are not limited to, such things as:
    • exemplary support and guidance for students working on History Day projects;
    • assistance in helping students showcase their history projects within the community and/or publish their material;
    • overall commitment to the intellectual development of individual students;
    • encouragement of students to use their understanding of history to become engaged, informed citizens in their community and beyond.
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2008 Joseph Webber Teaching Award Winner

This is the 14th year for the Joseph Webber Teaching Award to be presented in Missouri, and again the Webber Award winner will be Missouri's nominee for the national prize in June. This year's award winner is a very successful teacher and wonderful person with which to work.

Dacia Rzchowski began working with the National History Day program at Blue Springs High School about 10 years ago. “Energetic,” “dedicated,” and “helpful” are all words other use to describe Dacia. She goes to great lengths to help her students be successful, finding and then directing them to useful resources for research. Her History Day students have a lot of success at all levels of the contest, a feat considering she only has them to work with for one year.

Dacia has been a great help to National History Day in the Kansas City region, where, in addition to working with her own students, she has assisted with regional workshops, judging, and mentoring teachers both within and outside her school district.

On the state level, Dacia has served on the teacher advisory committee and given of her time, effort, and good ideas. A former state coordinator said that Dacia was “tremendously helpful” with a display about NHDMO at the Kansas City Public Library in 2006. She attends and helps with state-level teacher workshops and judges at the state contest. Dacia is a teacher who goes the extra mile, not only for her students, but also for National History Day in Missouri.

Congratulations to Ms. Dacia Rzchowski, National History Day in Missouri’s Teacher of the Year!

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Previous Winners of the Missouri Teacher of Merit Award

1992-Brenda Campbell, Richland High School, Essex, MO (Region 9)
1993-Keith Kirk, Carl Junction Junior High, Carl Junction, MO (Region 6)
1994-Luge Hardman, Waynesville High School, Waynesville, MO (Region 8)
1995-Maryann Shephard, Brentwood High School, Brentwood, MO (Region 5)
1996-Michael Murphy, Risco High School, Risco, MO (Region 9)
1997-Mitchell Froman, Greenville High School, Greenville, MO (Region 9)
1998-Pam Babbitt, Carl Junction Junior High, Carl Junction, MO (Region 6)
1999-Kay Johnson, Monett Intermediate School, Monett, MO (Region 6)
2000-Rolla Team: Helen Branson (English), Scott Randall (History), Mary Meuller (Information sciences), Leah Prewitt (Speech/drama), Rolla Junior High (Region 8)
2001-Carol Bohl, Harrisonville Christian School, Harrisonville, MO (Region 3)
2002-Kathleen Swift, Carthage Junior High, Carthage, MO (Region 6)
2003-Christy Connor, St. Raphael the Archangel School, St. Louis (Region 5)
2004-Derek Frieling, Lafayette High School, St. Joseph, MO (Region 1)
2005-Karen Grimmett, Iva E. Wells Middle School, Senecea, MO (Region 6)
2006-Karen Ellison, Hollister Middle School, Hollister, MO (Region 7)
2007-Michael Murphy, Risco R-2 Schools, Risco, MO (Region 9)

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