Mount Vernon honors area teacher

If you're a rising junior at Osbourn Park High School and if you're taking Jennifer Hill's history class, here's a tip: There's a good chance you'll be taking an all-expense-paid trip to Mount Vernon this coming school year.

Hill, 29, of Arlington, won the second annual Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year award at a reception on July 22. The reception was part of a two-day teacher institute at Mount Vernon.

"I know there are so many teachers out there that are very qualified and I just feel very fortunate to win something like this," Hill said. "I was just glowing… It's such a pleasure to be recognized for something like this."

Hill, a 1997 graduate of C.D. Hylton High School, received a bust of George Washington with her name on it, $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid field trip to Mount Vernon with her students for winning the award.

"This award celebrates educators such as Jennifer Hill, who brings creativity and passion to her teaching and who deepens her students' understanding and appreciation of history," Mount Vernon executive director James C. Rees said in a press release.

To qualify for an award, Hill was nominated by an administrator, then had to fill out the application form: a letter of recommendation from her principal, a colleague, three former students, a lesson plan and a project. She entered a yearlong activity for the project, where the students document their family history in the 20th century. Her submitted lesson plan was about George Washington.

She said she hoped she had a chance, but really looked at the application process as a chance to gather her thoughts and philosophies about teaching. At the end of June she received a voicemail from Mount Vernon. She called back and got the news.

"I immediately burst into tears, how embarrassing," Hill said. "As a history teacher, it's just a dream come true."

She said the biggest joy is when students—who really don't care about history—begin to develop an interest and a passion for the subject.

"I absolutely adore working with the students," Hill said. "It's so neat to share something that I love so much, especially with students."

Last year she taught a survey course which included information from Columbus to the present day and a 20th Century American history class. Her secret in the classroom? Make it relatable.

"If they can't relate to it, they're going to have a really difficult time learning it," Hill said.

Staff writer Josh Eiserike can be reached at 703-878-8072.