Blythewood High School Social Studies teacher receives National Distinction

Blythewood High School Social Studies teacher Scott Auspelmyer has been selected to participate in The National World War II Museum Teacher Institute beginning this summer.

This immersive sixteen-month professional development opportunity for high school history and social studies teachers begins in the summer of 2016. A cohort of fewer than 30 teachers selected from over 250 applicants across the country will spend a week at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans in July 2016 and a week at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in July 2017.

Prior to the Institute each summer, selected teachers will participate in preparatory readings and online discussions with Museum staff, World War II expert and author of the acclaimed books Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire and Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Campaign Richard B. Frank, and each other. During the 2016-2017 school year, teachers will work with Museum educators to redeliver a professional development workshop on the history of WWII in their hometown.

Auspelmyer, the 2008 South Carolina Social Studies Teacher of the Year and 2009 National Social Studies Teacher of the Year, was selected based on teaching experience, lessons taught, and future plans to implement the information learned from the participation in the Institute. The application also included references from colleagues and BHS principal Dr. Brenda Hafner.

“I’m honored to have been chosen for this institute,” Auspelmyer said. “I am especially excited to learn from this institution and bring back great ideas I can implement into the classroom for my students.”