Mount Vernon Recognizes Excellence in History Teaching; Loudoun County Teacher Honored

Mount Vernon, Virginia -- George Washington's Mount Vernon has awarded the 2022 History Teacher of the Year to Nellie Beaman, sixth grade history teacher from Eagle Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, Virginia.

The Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year award is presented annually to one teacher in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area who brings creativity and passion to their teaching, generates a love of learning, and deepens their students’ understanding and appreciation of history. The award winner receives a cash award of $5000 and a fully funded field trip to Mount Vernon for their students.

Ms. Beaman teaches sixth grade history at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Ashburn, Virginia, and is in her twelfth year in the classroom teaching.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Beaman serves as her sixth-grade collaborative learning team teacher and has been a key member of her district’s professional learning communities including providing teacher mentorship, curriculum development support to middle school social science and global studies, and involvement with programs like Odyssey of the Mind. Her dedication to continued professional development is evident through her participation in a range of programs provided through the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the George Washington Teacher Institute.

A colleague wrote in a recommendation for the award, “Her love and passion ignite a spark of curiosity and a love of history in her students. She is constantly finding ways to bring history to life for them.” Another added “…her impact has been huge at Eagle Ridge and in our pyramid of schools over the course of many years.”

This year’s runner-up, James (Erik) Sassak, is an eight grade civics teacher at Blue Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County, VA. He will receive a cash award of $500 and distance learning programs for his students.

This year marks the 14th anniversary of the Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year award provided through generous support from the Robertson Foundation.

The award review panel was made up of Mount Vernon education staff who design programming and resources for K-12 students and teachers further supporting Mount Vernon’s mission and vision in schools across the country.

Allison Wickens, Mount Vernon's Vice President for Education, says, “Mount Vernon is indebted to great history teachers. It is our honor each year to champion leaders in this field. We are proud to showcase the importance of their work and the lasting impact of their daily efforts.”

Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn will present the award to Beaman at 7pm ET on October 11 during the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington’s Ford Evening Book Talk and Official Book Launch: George Washington and the Myth of American Masculinity.