Johnson County teacher in running for national award

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE — A Johnson County history teacher is in the running for a national award.

J.R. VanHoose, a member of the Johnson Central High School Social Studies Department, won the Sons of the American Revolution American History Teacher Award from the organization’s Big Sandy and Kentucky chapters.

VanHoose’s win in the state competition in the high school division advanced him to the national competition for the Dr. Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award.

The award, given to teachers on the elementary, middle school and high school levels, recognizes educators who distinguish themselves in teaching the history of the American Revolution, according to the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution website.

“Teacher candidates interested in entering the local SAR Chapter contest must complete the required application and submit a written essay of not less than 1000 words discussing the importance of teaching the American Revolution era,” the website says. “The essay may also describe any extraordinary teaching techniques or innovative projects utilized by the teacher to teach the American Revolution.”

The contest is aimed at identifying a teacher who is actively teaching, has taught for at least three years and who is in the early or middle stages of his or her career, having at least 15 years of productive classroom teaching remaining, the website says.

Among other perks, the winner of the award receives $1,000 for use for his or her personal use along with $3,000 to pay for tuition and travel expenses to attend one of several teacher seminars across the country.

A graduate of Paintsville High School, where he was a standout basketball player who was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, and Marshall University, VanHoose began his teaching career in 2003. In addition to JCHS, he has also taught in the Paintsville Independent School District and at Phelps High School.