Get to Know the 2017 History Teachers of the Year: Kathleen Boland, Connecticut

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 Kathleen Boland:

Kathleen Boland, Trumbull High School
2017 Connecticut History Teacher of the Year

Do you have a favorite/funny memory from teaching?
My students this year surprised me with a birthday party back in December. We had just won the State Championship for the We the People competition a few days before. They managed to ask our dean of students to call me out of the classroom during passing time and make me "tardy" to class. When I came into the room, they all jumped up from their hiding places and started singing "Happy Birthday" to me with my dean of students laughing in the background. They had birthday cake and other desserts for the class to share as well as themed gifts for me including a cardboard cutout of my favorite founding father, George Washington, and a bobble-head figure of my other favorite, Alexander Hamilton, for my desk. I was truly surprised and thankful for this beautiful gesture from my class.

State one fun historical fact about the town you live in or grew up in.
Milford, Connecticut, was founded in 1639 while the Puritans were chasing the Pequots down the coast during the Pequot War. It has the longest coastline of any town in Connecticut.

What is the last great history book you read?
Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America by Stephen Knott and Tony Williams. This is a great joint biography of the unlikely friendship and alliance between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. It’s a must read for all early American history buffs.

What advice would you give to young people, in high school or college, who may be considering a career in education but are unsure?
Do it! Teaching is one of the best jobs in the world. As a teacher, you get to continually learn new things, not only about your subject area, but also about yourself. Each day brings new challenges and new insights and "best moments." It is amazing to be able to witness a student learning a concept or idea for the first time or seeing the smile on their face when they ace a project or quiz.

If you could travel back in time and meet any historical figure who would it be and why?
George Washington upon his final return home upon retirement to Mount Vernon. I would like to meet with him on his porch overlooking the Potomac and ask him all sorts of questions. I would also like to ask for his advice on what lessons I should teach my students about his life and the founding of our country.

Who is your favorite historian?
Carol Berkin. She brings the Founding Fathers alive through her books and her talks. After reading Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution or Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence, you really gain an appreciation and deep understanding of the men and women who created our nation.

Do you have a favorite historical topic or era?
There is a story that, upon exiting the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was simple and direct: "A republic, if you can keep it." This founding of our nation is my favorite historical era because it not only lays the foundation of our country, but also gives us the mandate to keep the republic alive.

Do your students have a favorite historical topic or era?
My We the People students love debating the Founding Fathers. We often have discussions in class about the most influential Founding Fathers/Mothers and the most overrated ones. I often have many students who are Team Jefferson and others who may be Team Adams or Team Hamilton.