Patricia Sellar, an Auten Road Intermediate School social studies teacher, was named New Jersey Council for the Social Studies Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Each year, the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies honors an elementary and secondary teacher for their commitment and dedication to the study of social sciences as well as to their students.
Both the elementary and secondary award recipients are recognized with a plaque at the statewide conference in the fall.
According to a press release from the school, Mrs. Sellar is an experienced and innovative member of the Hillsborough Township Public Schools Social Studies Department and Auten Road Intermediate School teaching staff. She is committed to creating an interactive learning environment to engage her students in the classroom as well expand their knowledge as they develop into well-informed citizens of our community.
Mrs. Sellar’s skills reach far beyond her classroom as well. She developed and currently serves as a co-advisor of the National History Day Club at Auten Road School. Club members participate in a year-long, worldwide educational program in which they aim to become an expert on a topic related to a yearly theme culminating in a presentation to a prestigious group of judges, according to the press release.
This national program benefits Mrs. Sellar’s students by allowing the students to become independent thinkers who are able to critically look at important global ideas and topics while developing public speaking and presentation skills, the press release said.
Mrs. Sellar was also a key member of a group of Auten Road School fifth grade teachers who developed an annual school-wide “Colonial Day” event to enhance the 5th grade social studies curriculum. Each year, representatives from the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts as well as teachers and parent volunteers lead classroom activities during the day including practice with quill and ink, butter making, whirligig making, and more, according to the press release.
“Congratulations to Mrs. Sellar for this well-deserved honor,” said Dr. Cynthia Assini, District Supervisor of Social Studies and REACH. “Mrs. Sellar is an innovative, thoughtful, and creative member of the social studies department who routinely exceeds expectations with her commitment to professional learning, community connections, and activities designed to engage students.”