Albemarle Educator is Virginia History Teacher of the Year
US History Teacher from Albemarle High Selected
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History recently recognized Albemarle County educator Rusty Carlock as the 2018 Virginia History Teacher of the Year. Carlock teaches at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville.
Carlock is an 11th-grade teacher of Virginia and United States History. He first began as an English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) instructor in 2003 in Albemarle County, and also taught in El Salvador and Taiwan.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University, a Master of Teaching degree from the University of Virginia, and both Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Harvard University.
“With his global perspective, Rusty Carlock strives to build a community of learners,” Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said. “He does so by engaging his students in real-world projects that have an impact beyond the classroom.”
The Albemarle High teacher was one of 160 nominees for the award and was selected for the honor by a committee of educators and historians from the Center for Teaching the Rule or Law, George Mason University, Hampton University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Radford University, University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Rusty’s vision and leadership have led to transformational opportunities for students to pursue their passion and interests through a student-centered learning environment,” Albemarle County Public Schools’ Director of Secondary Education Jay P. Thomas said. “His students study American history and literature to explore American identity and become critical thinkers, writers and speakers with a vision for the future that is informed by a deep understanding of the past.”
Carlock will receive a $1,000 award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and is now the commonwealth’s nominee for the National History Teacher of the Year Award to be announced later this year. In addition, Albemarle High will receive an archive of primary historical materials in his honor from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.
Carlock is the 15th educator to be honored as the commonwealth’s top history teacher. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has awarded the National History Teacher of the Year Award since 2004. Nearly 700 exemplary K-12 American history teachers have been named as state history teachers of the year.