Press Release
May 31, 2016
Contact: Sarah Dumas
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0785
sdumas@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center Announces the 2016 Gilder Lehrman Oklahoma History Teacher of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY — Margo Loflin, a teacher at Norman High School in Norman, Okla., has been named the 2016 Oklahoma History Teacher of the Year, an award sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Started in 2004, the History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US territories.
The National History Teacher of the Year will be selected from this list of state winners and honored at a ceremony in New York City. Past presenters at the ceremony include former First Lady Laura Bush, former US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In 1992 Margo Loflin completed her bachelor of science in education degree from the University of Oklahoma. She went on to become a National Board Certified teacher in Adolescent and Early Adult Social Studies Education. Margo has spent her teaching career in the Norman Public Schools system. She is the American History team leader, and teaches U.S. and AP U.S. History. Margo has served on numerous boards and committees, making time to also be an advisor for the Student Congress and Sophomore Class at Norman High School. She challenges students in the classroom, mentoring them in both school and life lessons.
Ms. Loflin will receive a $1,000 honorarium and the Norman High School library will receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. She will also receive an invitation to a 2017 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, a weeklong program that offers teachers daily discussions with eminent historians, visits to historic sites, and hands-on work with primary sources.
The Oklahoma History Center is proud to partner with the Gilder Lehrman Institute for this program by providing qualified nominees and presenting the award to the state winner. Nominations can be made by a student, parent, colleague, supervisor or other administrator familiar with the teacher’s work. To be considered for the 2017 award, teachers must be nominated by February 1, 2017. For more information, visit www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a New York–based national nonprofit devoted to the teaching and learning of American history. Gilder Lehrman draws on top scholars, an unparalleled collection of original historical documents and a national network of Affiliate Schools to create and provide a broad range of innovative resources; help new generations of students learn about American history in a way that is engaging and memorable, and promotes critical thinking and excellent writing. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment of the Humanities, and the Organization of American Historians.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Association of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains 30 museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
