A Springstead High teacher was named American History Teacher of the year by Florida's Daughters of the American Revolution.
By LOGAN NEILL
Published February 20, 2004
SPRING HILL - Students who walk into Suzanne Bates-Miranda's classroom at Springstead High School have learned to expect surprises.
If the day's lesson is on presidential elections, she might well be wearing her faded red, white and blue political convention skimmer. Or, if she's planning to discuss the subject of trench warfare in World War I that day, she'll get out her antique rubber gas mask and pull it over her face.
Granted, American history tends to get something of a lukewarm response when it comes to high-schoolers. The monotony of historical dates, names and places so long ago doesn't always cut much sway with youth whose lives are more apt to be in tune with today's pop culture.
Which is why Bates-Miranda goes out of her way to make American history not only palatable but entertaining as well.
"I have a blast with this job," says the 41-year-old teacher who joined the Springstead High faculty this year after a seven-year stint at Powell Middle School. "Anyone can teach history by the book, but I've found that kids really relate to history when they can relate it to real life."
Indeed, her students are encouraged to think beyond the blackboard. Assignments include projects like painting historical murals and creating original political cartoons. She even had them interviewing local World War II veterans as part of a living history project called "American Memories."
"So many kids are of the belief that history is boring and inconsequential to them," Bates-Miranda said. "But then they'll sit and talk with a veteran and hear the emotion in their story, and it suddenly clicks a light on inside. I love seeing that. It's why I love to teach history."
That commitment to her profession recently caught the attention of the Florida State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which last week named Bates-Miranda as its 2003-04 American History Teacher of the Year.
Phyllis Scales, the Hernando DAR's American history chairwoman, said the nomination for the organization's highest education honor, which will be awarded in a ceremony on April 2 in Orlando, was well deserved.
"I've been to her classes and I'm always amazed at the enthusiasm her students have for learning history," Scales said. "She is very dedicated to presenting the subject in a manner that they find interesting and meaningful."
Bates-Miranda's love of history goes back to early childhood in Erie, Pa., where she would listen to family members tell stories around the dinner table. Her father often talked of his life as a soldier in World War II. But it was the hushed words of her uncle, a Holocaust survivor, that often left her emotionally drained.
"He made the horrors of the concentration camp come alive for me," she said. "Being able to capture history and make it relevant inspired me to do what I do today."
After receiving her teaching certificate at the University of South Florida, Bates-Miranda took a position teaching history at Powell Middle. Two years after her arrival, she was put in charge of the school's History Day fair, and later co-organized the annual countywide event with Fox Chapel Middle School history teacher Dana Cottrell. Since then, the county has sent nearly 75 students to the state history fair. Of those students, several have also received national honors.
"She's really great at motivating people," said junior Jon Doyle, who is among 21 Springstead High students who were recently chosen as finalists in this year's state history fair. "If I had a different teacher, I probably wouldn't have as much interest in history. She gets you hooked."
Bates-Miranda doesn't think it's all that hard to get students interested in history. All they need is a little inspiration.
"I tell kids to talk to people - family members, neighbors, friends - (and) listen to their stories," she said. "They should learn to see that history is living all around us every day."
