The Oregon Historical Society is pleased to announce that two Oregon educators, Patrick O’Brien and John Santella, have been nominated for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award for their work with students on Oregon History Day (OHD), an affiliate of the National History Day® (NHD) program.
History Day is a student-directed learning program that reaches more than half a million students each year. Creating projects inspired by an annual theme, young historians in grades 6–12 choose topics to explore, conduct historical research, practice critical thinking skills, and analyze primary and secondary sources while considering diverse viewpoints.
Patrick O’Brien, the grades 7/8 Individuals and Societies teacher at Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon, was nominated in the Junior (middle school) category for the way he has made History Day a cornerstone of the school’s curriculum. Since relocating to Bend from Switzerland in 2018, O’Brien has supported many students at both the state and national contest levels. His influence at Seven Peaks School stands out due to the opportunities he has cultivated for students to share their work both within their school and throughout their community; back-to-school nights and orientation sessions for prospective families have become spaces where students’ History Day achievements are highlighted and celebrated. Having had such a positive experience participating in the program, many alumni return to guide current students through the process, serving as judges or leading discussions about History Day.
John Santella, a social studies teacher at Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon, has been nominated for the award in the Senior (high school) division. Having first participated in History Day during the 2019–2020 school year when the contest had to shift to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Santella found the program to be a successful tool to engage students even within a distance-learning setting. During the next two years, Santella and his colleagues promoted the program throughout their school, leading Westview to become one of the largest Oregon History Day participants in the state. When in-person competition returned in 2023, 30 Westview students presented their projects at the Oregon History Day contest at Willamette University; almost half of those students continued on to compete in the National Contest near Washington, D.C.
“The nominees for the Behring Award have shown a dedication to teaching that goes beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Cathy Gorn, National History Day Executive Director. “These educators are leading examples for their peers and invaluable resources for their students. I congratulate Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Santella on their well-deserved nominations.”
History Day’s unique approach to learning history carries many benefits for students. Rather than simply reading a textbook or memorizing dates, students can use multiple disciplines to learn about history, further developing strong research skills. With the option to choose their own topic of interest and present their work as either a paper, documentary, exhibit, website, or performance, students use creative expression to interpret primary and secondary sources, implement effective research strategies, and develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.
The national winner, who will receive a $10,000 award, will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians, and announced on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the National History Day® National Contest Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland. 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. The award is sponsored by Patricia Behring in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students.
