The CT Daughters of the American Revolution (CTDAR), at the 119th Annual State Conference in Southbury recognized Stratford middle school teacher Scott Szturma with the prestigious Outstanding Teacher of American History award at the Awards Banquet Friday night, April 13.
Scott Szturma, a resident of Beacon Falls, was nominated by our Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter member Charlene Johnson. She recognized Scott's dedication and enthusiasm in teaching his 8th grade students at Harry B. Flood Middle School in Stratford. Our chapter's Regent, Barbara Wells, enthusiastically endorsed Scott and sent his accomplishments to CTDAR State Historian Joyce Saraceni. Ms. Saraceni said "It was clear he was preparing our future leaders by making history 'come alive' and teaching students to think critically about our social and ethical issues of today."
Scott's students don't just read about history from books. He takes his students on field trips to Boston's Freedom Trail to follow the path from the Boston Tea Party to Bunker Hill and field trips to more recent events like the Holocaust Museum and Ground Zero in NYC. Besides field trips he challenges his students to explore various historical events and involves them in Veteran's Day programs, multi-school simulation programs and discussions. In other words, Mr. Szturma makes history live.
Scott Szturma has been teaching for 13 years and is a TEAM teacher mentor and teaches after school programs at Flood Middle School. He is also the head baseball coach at Bunnell HS in Stratford besides having a baseball training camp for youth in Fairfield and New Haven counties. Scott also finds the time to coach basketball in the Beacon Falls Basketball League.
Mr. Szturma can be described with many adjectives: patriotic, humble, professional, enthusiastic, supportive, committed, ethical, respected, personable and well-liked. He sets the bar high by building tomorrow's leaders to be well-educated, independent, respected citizens of good character and strong moral ethics. The SRH-MS Chapter and the CTDAR are proud to honor Scott Szturma at the State level. State Historian Joyce Saraceni has submitted his name to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) for the National Outstanding Teacher of American History which will be presented in Washington, DC at the 121st Continental Congress June 27-July 1, 2012.
The DAR perpetuates the memory and spirit of the men and women who won American independence. Any woman over 18 who can prove an ancestor served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR go online to www.srhmsdar.org or call SRH-MS Regent Barbara Wells at 203-550-9643. For more information on the DAR go to http://www.dar.org/
