Beth Kelly, a kindergarten teacher at Paulding Elementary School in Paulding, has been named the
2013 Ohio History Teacher of the Year.The award is co-sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History, HISTORY and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on behalf of its Preserve America
program.A veteran teacher with nearly 20 years of experience at the pre-K and elementary level, Kelly grew
up in Paulding County and graduated from Paulding High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early
childhood education from the University of Toledo and a master of education degree from Bowling Green State
University. She has been named both a Martha Holding Jennings Scholar and a Master Teacher by Paulding
Exempted Village Schools.Kelly, a Paulding County resident, was recognized with a $1,000 honorarium recently
at a school assembly. In addition to the recognition afford to Kelly, Paulding Elementary’s library will
receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History and HISTORY. Kelly will also be invited to a 2014 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar and
Paulding Elementary will be named a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School."This award gives us the chance to
recognize great history teachers across the country," said Lesley S. Herrmann, Executive Director of
the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. "It puts exceptional educators front and
center."Inaugurated in 2004, the award promotes and celebrates the teaching of American history in
classrooms across the United States. The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher of American history from
each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories.The 2013
award honors elementary school teachers of kindergarten through sixth grade. The selection of the state
winner is based upon several criteria, including: at least three years of classroom experience in teaching
American history; a demonstrated commitment to teaching American history (including state and local
history); evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; effective use of documents, artifacts,
historic sites, oral histories, and other primary resources to engage students with American history.From
the state winners, one is recognized as the National History Teacher of the Year and will be honored in a
fall ceremony. The winner, together with the nominator and two of the winner’s students, will travel to the
national recognition ceremony with expenses paid by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.