Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Jennifer Faith, Kentucky

This year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute recognized 52 State History Teachers of the Year for their tireless and innovative efforts to make history come alive for their students.

But who are they, really? We asked these talented teachers to answer a few questions about themselves and to reflect on the challenges and joys of teaching. We will feature a state winner every Tuesday and Thursday, so keep checking back to learn more about these outstanding educators!

This week, meet Jennifer Faith:

Jennifer Faith, Eastside Middle School
2017 Kentucky History Teacher of the Year

State one fun historical fact about the town you live in or grew up in.
I grew up in Harlan County, Kentucky, which is located in the southeastern corner of the state. The economy is focused on coal mining. Harlan earned the nickname "Bloody Harlan" due to violence during labor strikes, focused on the workers’ desire to unionize. There is a documentary called Harlan County USA that focuses on this event in the 1970s.

What is your favorite historical film or series?
My favorite historical film/series is the History Channel series America the Story of US. I use this series in my classroom a lot. My students are engaged and learn so much from this series. It isn’t boring, which is a huge bonus for a history educational video.

What is your favorite historical site or museum?
My favorite historical museum/site is the Frazier History Museum, which is located in Louisville. I try to take my students there at least once each year. They have a wonderful education program, historical actors, and traveling exhibits.

If you could travel back in time and meet any historical figure who would it be and why?
If I could travel back in time and meet any historical figure it would be Thomas Jefferson. George Washington is my favorite person in American history, but Thomas Jefferson is the one that I have the most mixed feelings about. He was a strict constructionist but he purchased the Louisiana Territory. He said that "all Men are created equal," but he had slaves and fathered children with one of his slaves. Washington freed his slaves in his will. Why didn’t Jefferson? So many questions . . . Plus he was brilliant, kind of like the Leonardo da Vinci of the Founding Era.

Do you have a favorite historical topic or era?
My favorite historical topic to teach is the Constitution. I feel as though this is the most important topic that I teach my students because it directly relates to their lives. This is also the most challenging topic that I teach because I have to be very deliberate about the methods I use to teach the Constitution. I love the moment when my students can really see how this affects their lives. Last year, my students created an election scrapbook. One component of the scrapbook was a document-based question regarding the Electoral College and whether it should be abolished. Those students know more about how the Electoral College works than the majority of adults!

Do your students have a favorite historical topic or era?
My students’ favorite historical topic/era is Manifest Destiny/Westward Expansion. I am fortunate to work with a librarian who loves history, and she allows me to turn her library into a historical adventure. During this unit, the students "pan for gold," make butter, scrub clothes on a washboard, pack a wagon, and flesh out a deer hide. They don’t even realize that they are learning!