Kason Dalton, a teacher at Dent Middle School in Richland School District Two, has been named the 2018 South Carolina History Teacher of the Year. This award is presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a national organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.

“Kason’s commitment to historical thinking and personalized learning makes her an excellent choice to represent the many outstanding history teachers in South Carolina,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. “I congratulate Kason on being chosen to represent our great state and wish her the best of luck in this national competition.” 

Inaugurated in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US Territories. In the fall of 2018, the National History Teacher of the Year will be selected from the pool of state winners. In 2015, Mary Huffman of Pinckney Elementary in Charleston County School District was named the 2015 National History Teacher of the Year. 

Kason immerses her 7th grade students in a variety of historical simulations to teach modern world history. Her student-centered classroom is also rooted in the historical process with an emphasis on reading, analyzing and thinking like a historian. Over her 10 years in education, Kason has made presentations on historical thinking and personalized learning at national and state conferences and received her National Board Certification. She also serves as the co-chair of the South Carolina Council for History Education.

In addition to a $1,000 honorarium and an award ceremony, Kason's school library will receive a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials. Ms. Dalton will also receive an invitation to a 2019 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, a week-long program that offers teachers daily discussions with eminent historians, visits to historic sites, and hands-on work with primary sources. 

Nominations for the 2019 History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award by visiting this link. The deadline for 2019 nominations is March 31, 2019.