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His passionate teaching of history piques the interest of students

High school history teacher Alan Kay's dedication has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and students.

DUNEDIN - Close your history textbook. And turn off that VCR.

If you are a student in Alan Kay's history class at Dunedin High, you're re-enacting a war or pretending to be an immigrant settling in one of the 13 colonies.

Pinellas County's Outstanding Educator of the Year involves his students in history. He teaches through storytelling, connecting his students to the events in European, American and world history.

On Friday, the day after he won the county's top educator award, Kay arrived at the school in a black limousine.

"I'm still in a cloud," he said. "It's kind of like that feeling how the coaches feel when they're carried by the players."

His students surprised him with a banner -- Congratulations Mr. Kay. "He's so passionate," said Charissa Wilson, a junior. "You actually want to do the work. I seriously think his is the only class you learn something in. He makes it a story. I'm actually interested and I never thought I would be."

Kay, 38, who lives in Palm Harbor, began his career in 1989 as an eighth-grade civics teacher at Lake Taylor Middle School in Norfolk, Va. He came to Florida in 1993 and taught history for a year at Horance Mann Junior High School in Brandon. He taught at King High International Baccalaureate before coming to Dunedin in 1997.

Principal Mildred Reed remembers the spark in Kay's eyes when she first met him. She said she knew Dunedin High had to get him.

Tom Brittain, an assistant principal, remembers walking into one of Kay's classes to talk to a student and becoming so intrigued with the lesson, he sat down in a desk and stayed for almost the entire period.

At 5 feet 6, Kay is shorter than most of his students. But he jokes about it. "I look up to them in more ways than one," he said.

Kay also is the author of four children's books in the Young Heroes of History historical fiction series. He initiated Pinellas County History Day and has written curriculum for middle and high school civic classes.

"I think that what this award shows is how important education is to non-educators," Kay said. "Our leaders need to realize how much all of us - businessmen, community leaders and everyday citizens - value education in a substantial way."

- Megan Scott can be reached at 445-4167 or mscott@sptimes.com