Osseo Senior High School teacher wins Teaching America250 Award

Megan Thompson, social studies teacher at Osseo Senior High School (OSH), has been named a recipient of the Teaching America250 Award by the Jack Miller Center. Thompson is among 51 educators across the United States selected to receive this honor in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The 51 teachers selected represent each state and Washington, D.C.

At OSH, Thompson teaches crime and justice, AP Government and Politics, and dual enrollment courses in world history and government. She is a James Madison Fellow, a Sphere 100 Fellow, and a member of the National Constitution Center’s Teacher Advisory Board as well as Eastern State Penitentiary’s Collaboratory for Justice Education. She leads professional development on social studies, civil dialogue, and mindfulness in the classroom and has developed and consulted on curriculum development regarding America 250, the Constitution and justice education.

“The Teaching America250 Award winners are introducing the next generation to the essential ideas, stories, and documents of America’s civic tradition,” said Hans Zeiger, president of the Jack Miller Center. “Through their projects, these amazing educators will make America’s 250th birthday a memorable experience for thousands of students across the country.”

The award will fund the work, materials and scholarships for a Declaration of Independence essay competition resulting in four $1,000 scholarships for OSH students. In their essays, students will choose one ideal from the Declaration of Independence and explain why that ideal was important to the Founders when they stood up for something or took action in a way that reflected the same ideal. 

In addition to the funding, the Jack Miller Center will also sponsor Thompson’s attendance at the National Summit on Civic Education in Philadelphia this spring.