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News Release

Rockingham Educator is Virginia History Teacher of the Year

Elkton Middle School 6th-Grade US History Teacher Selected for Honor

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History recently recognized Rockingham County educator Luke Roadcap as the 2017 Virginia History Teacher of the Year. Roadcap teaches at Elkton Middle School in Elkton.

Roadcap is a sixth-grade teacher of United States History to 1865. An educator since 2012, he has received  a number of awards including the 2016 Outstanding History Educator from the Massanutten Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution and 2014-2015 Elkton Middle School Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching, Roadcap serves as a historical interpreter at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science degree from Bridgewater College and a Master of Arts in History degree from James Madison University.

“Luke Roadcap makes history come alive for his students,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. “His ability to integrate his vast historical knowledge with innovative instructional practices provides those in his classroom with an engaging and student-centered learning environment.”

The Elkton Middle School teacher was one of 77 nominees for the award and was selected for the honor by a committee of educators and historians from the Virginia Historical Society, Hampton University, Rappahannock Community College, George Mason University, James Madison University, Center for Teaching the Rule of Law, Radford University and Longwood University.

“Luke consistently makes use of primary resources to create hands-on activities that compel students to apply their historical knowledge,” said Rockingham County Public Schools’ Social Studies Coordinator Beau Dickenson. “His passion for history education and innovative teaching practices sets him apart from his peers.”

Roadcap will receive a $1,000 award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and is the commonwealth’s nominee for the National History Teacher of the Year Award to be announced later this year. In addition, Elkton Middle will receive an archive of primary historical materials in his honor from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

Roadcap is the 14th educator to be honored as the commonwealth's top history teacher.

Founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization devoted to the improvement of history education. Information about the National History Teacher of the Year award can be found on the Gilder Lehrman Website.  

 

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