Meet the 2010 Kentucky MISSION US Teachers of the Year
KET’s MISSION US training initiative was a huge success. KET and partners the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Historical Society, and the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies introduced the MISSION US game and resources to more than 2,800 teachers across the state. As part of the project, KET recognized teachers who used MISSION US in innovative and exciting ways.
Kentucky MISSION US Teachers of the Year:
- Laureen Laumeyer, Meadow View Elementary, Hardin County
- Latisha Cardwell and Amy Smith-Thomas, Butler County Middle School
Eighth graders at Butler County Middle School created a “Walk Through Boston” and presented it to other classes at the school.
Laumeyer, who teaches 5th grade at Meadow View Elementary in Hardin County, was also named the National MISSION US Educator of the Year! Laumeyer used MISSION US materials in a wide variety of ways across her Revolutionary War unit, adapting them to meet her students’ specific needs and to create a rigorous and engaging learning experience. Students used the games and resources as class activities, group activities, individual activities, and homework.
Cardwell, a media specialist, and Smith-Thomas, an 8th grade teacher, collaborated in their use of MISSION US. They used the game as a review and supplementary drama/social studies activity. Students created a lantern-lit “Walk through Boston” in the school’s media center, presenting character monologues, costumes, props, and overheads built around events on the MISSION US timeline.
Honorable Mention:
Characters in the “Walk Through Boston” included the late Christopher Seider, shown here in his coffin.
- Dana Carman, 8th grade teacher in Breckinridge County. Carman used a variety of the materials, and her students loved Pennywhistle Hero so much one of them put a pennywhistle on her Christmas list! She also created a PhotoShow.
- Leanna Prater and Jamie Burch, technology resource teachers in Fayette County. They trained the 5th grade teachers at 27 elementary schools on MISSION US and created an interesting array of training materials with a “Top Secret” theme.
- Ilah Conley, social studies lab instructor at Florence Elementary School. After her students played the game, they created a hallway “museum” about the Revolutionary War.
- Kyla Hatfield, 5th grade social studies teacher at Russell-McDowell Intermediate school in Flatwoods. Hatfield’s use included both class and individual play and focused on vocabulary activities.