Schools

Teacher Meghan McNeeley Wins Awards for her Work On Holocaust Education

McNeeley is a teacher at Clarke Middle School.

By Anisa Sullivan Jimenez

Clarke Middle School 8th grade English teacher Meghan McNeeley has been named the recipient of both The Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Educator Award, as well as Distinguished Educator of the Year, Middle School, for her work on Holocaust curriculum.

“I'm thrilled to be recognized for my work in Holocaust education. I'm very passionate about the subject, but more importantly, I am so pleased that Holocaust education is recognized as an important and necessary aspect of education today,” said McNeeley.

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A U.S. Holocaust Museum Fellow, she was integral in creating a lesson titled “The Role to Auschwitz” that is used by middle and high school students in English and History classes across America. Last year, she was also recognized for this work with an 11Alive Class Act Award. She will be recognized for her most recent awards at a special ceremony Fri., Apr. 12 at the Georgia State Capitol.

She first became interested in World War II when hearing her grandfather tell stories. As a first-year teacher, she couldn’t answer all the questions students had about the Holocaust, so she began this “dizzying cycle of reading, learning and wanting to know more.”

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According to Clarke Middle principal Tad MacMillan, “Meghan McNeeley's impact on the study of the Holocaust at the middle school level cannot be overstated. Meghan continues towork and develop lessons in the area of Holocaust studies, and she is committed to continuing to share that work with teachers everywhere.”

Because of this work, she will receive The Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Educator Award, which is presented by The Anne Frank Center in New York City. Presented in honor of the anniversary of Anne Frank’s 84th birthday in June 12, 2013, this award honors one teacher who has proven she has the personal courage to make a difference as an educator. The award recognizes a teacher who has created special programs or opportunities that encourage students to stand up to injustices against traditionally excluded groups. More information is available here.

In addition, she will receive The Distinguished Educator of the Year, Middle School presented by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. One teacher in elementary, middle and high school throughout the state is recognized for being an outstanding educator in the fields of Holocaust education, human rights, civil rights and character development whose work exemplifies a passion to eradicate hatred and discrimination. More information can be found by clicking here.

Said Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue, “Ms. McNeeley exemplifies not only what it means to be an outstanding educator, but also what it means to make a significant impact in our society. Her work on Holocaust education has helped anti-discrimination efforts across the country, and we could not be more proud to have her making this difference in Clarke County.”


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