Arcadia Unified’s Karalee Nakatsuka Celebrated for Being Named California History Teacher of the Year

Nakatsuka (center) being presented with the 2019 California History Teacher of the Year award and the Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation from the City of Arcadia. – Courtesy photo / AUSD

Arcadia Unified history teacher Karalee Nakatsuka recently made her own history. Of the tens of thousands of history teachers throughout California, Nakatsuka, who teaches at First Avenue Middle School, was named the 2019 California History Teacher of the Year and top 10 finalist for the National History Teacher of the Year award by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

There was standing room only in First Avenue Middle School’s auditorium on Friday, Sept. 6, as Nakatsuka’s students, family, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate Nakatsuka for a ceremony in recognition of her esteemed accomplishment. Bouncing off the walls were roars of applause and cheers of support from a sea of green that filled the seats (Nakatsuka’s favorite color and a color that represents her passion for frogs and “frog-tastic” puns.)

“My mission as a U.S. History teacher is to educate the whole child by making history come alive so students learn the lessons of the past in order to inform the decisions of today and plan and prepare for tomorrow,” said Nakatsuka while reflecting on this esteemed distinction. “In my classroom, my goal is to establish a climate and a culture that encourages my students to be critical thinkers, effective collaborators, life-long learners and empathetic, informed citizens who care and contribute to society.”

The ceremony stage saw Arcadia Unified’s Board of Education members and Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall as well as First Avenue Middle School Principal Dr. Semeen Issa, Arcadia Mayor April Verlato, and Gilder Lehrman Institute representative Jack Bareilles gathered together to share words, certificates, and other congratulatory tokens to celebrate Nakatsuka’s commitment to her students, colleagues, and profession.

– Courtesy photo / AUSD

“Ms. Nakatsuka teaches important historical concepts in meaningful ways, opening the door for students to understand and engage with history and paving the way for rich conversation and interaction with the subject matter,” shared Jack Bareilles, Gilder Lehrman Institute Representative, who made a trek all the way from Humboldt County to Arcadia to present Nakatsuka with her official certificate of recognition.

Nakatsuka has been an educator in Arcadia Unified since 1990. She earned a B.A. in American Studies at Occidental College and has a Social Studies Credential and Master of Education degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

In conjunction with Nakatsuka’s recognition, First Avenue Middle School will receive a $1,000 honorarium as well as a core archive of American history books and Gilder Lehrman educational materials.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s History Teacher of the Year Award program seeks to illuminate the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. Territories. Nakatsuka has advanced as a top 10 finalist from the pool of state winners being considered for the National History Teacher of the Year Award. A national winner will be named in a couple of weeks Bareilles said during his speech.

The institute’s National History Teacher of the Year will be presented with his or her recognition in New York City, scheduled for Oct. 2, 2019, and will be presented by John Avlon, senior political analyst and anchor at CNN. In alignment with the prestige of the program, past ceremony presenters include the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, First Lady Laura Bush, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Acclaimed teachers like Nakatsuka exemplify why Arcadia Unified was recently named in the top 1% of school districts with the best teachers in America, California, and Los Angeles by Niche.com. In correlation, Arcadia Unified was also named by Niche as being in the top 1% of the best school districts in America, California, and Los Angeles. For more about the Gilder Lehrman Institute, visit gilderlehrman.org and for more information on the Arcadia Unified School District, visit ausd.net.