Washington High School Teacher Allison Graves Named Missouri Council of the Social Studies Teacher of the Year
Washington High School social studies teacher Allison Graves has been named the 2022 Missouri Council of the Social Studies Teacher of the Year.
Graves, a 2010 graduate of Washington High School, has been a teacher for eight years, all at her alma mater. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Missouri State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University.
Graves teaches AP Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, United States History, and Leadership. She’s also co-advisor for WHS Student Council and is the sophomore class sponsor.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected as the MCSS Teacher of the Year,” Graves said. “Social Studies teachers across the state of Missouri work hard each day to prepare our next generation to be active, engaged citizens that are aware of the past and its legacy, appreciate different peoples and cultures, and understand the powers and limitations of our government systems. I am so proud I get to work alongside these great teachers, many of them right here in the School District of Washington.”
According to the MCSS website (
mosocialstudies.com), Teachers of the Year are selected from nomination and are judged on the following criteria:
*Developing and using materials creatively and effectively
*Incorporating innovative or verifiable instructional strategies and techniques
*Use of new scholarship in the social studies fields
*Fostering a spirit of inquiry and development of skills related to acquiring, organizing, processing, and using information
*Fostering the development of democratic beliefs and values needed for citizen participation in the classroom, school, and community settings
*Activity in workshops, curriculum development, and associations.
“Allison is well deserving of this award. She works diligently to make sure her students experience a wide range of activities in her classroom that support their learning of social studies,” said Washington High School Principal Dr. Kelle McCallum. “She takes on the challenge of teaching two AP classes. One of the AP classes is new to WHS this year and Allison is making it a successful experience for students. I appreciate her dedication and how hard she works as a teacher and sponsor of Student Council.”
“Allison is a great teacher. She cares about the students of Washington High School deeply, and it shows every day in her leadership and in her careful planning of lessons for the classroom,” said Ed Stahl, WHS Social Studies Department Chair. “She's an asset to the faculty and a consummate professional, always seeking to improve her abilities. It is an honor to work alongside her in Social Studies education.”
“It's great to see Allison recognized for all she does for her students. Over the years, she has dedicated countless unseen hours and has literally traveled the world to bring back authentic experiences to share with her students. Her classroom is a place where social studies come to life,” said WHS Assistant Principal Ben Strauser. “There are so many wonderful social studies teachers across this state and it's a point of pride for our district and community to have one of our own honored for all she does for her students.”
Graves Wins Award
Washington High School social studies teacher Allison Graves has been named the 2022 Missouri Council of the Social Studies Teacher of the Year.