A Lexington-Richland School District Five teacher has been selected as the Lexington Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8738 Teacher of the Year.
Dutch Fork High School teacher Kelly Eckstrom was nominated for the prestigious award by her peers for promoting citizenship education in her classroom and school. The group honored her during a small awards banquet on March 5.
“It was an honor to be presented the Teacher of the Year Award from Lexington County VFW Post 8738,” Eckstrom said. “VFW recognized me for promoting citizenship education at Dutch Fork High School. Without our nation’s veterans, America wouldn’t be the great nation it is today. I will continue to equip my students with a knowledge of America’s founding principles, a deep reverence for their liberties, and a respect for our country.”
Eckstrom has been teaching for 16 years at Dutch Fork High School and she also serves as the Beta Club Chapter sponsor.
“Mrs. Eckstrom is a professional, in the finest sense of the word,” said Dutch Fork High School Principal Dr. Gerald Gary. “She instills in her students positive images of themselves, provides them with knowledge of history and inspires them to perform to the best of their ability. Her ability to bring about positive changes has been noted by our staff and parents. Along with being a wonderful classroom teacher, Mrs. Eckstrom explores American History through her travels in photography. Bringing these real-life experiences and artifacts back to the classroom makes her connection to American History even more meaningful to her students.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars initiated the National Citizenship Education Teacher award in 1999 to recognize classroom teachers for promoting citizenship education, patriotism and civic responsibility with their students.
