Keeler In The Community
The 2019 Anna Keeler Award for Excellence in History and Civics Education Goes to…
August 15, 2019
Scotts Ridge Middle School Teacher Tom Broderick Poses in the Historic Keeler Tavern.
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center (“KTM&HC”) is pleased to announce that Tom Broderick, 8th-grade teacher at Scotts Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is the 2019 recipient of the Anna Keeler Award for Excellence in History and Civics Education. KTM&HC will present the award to Mr. Broderick at its 2nd annual Fall Party on September 14, 2019. All funds raised at the Fall Party support KTM&HC’s full-day, immersive, and curriculum-aligned school programs developed in partnership with teachers for students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
Established in 2015, the award recognizes a teacher whose passion and dedication motivates students to understand how past events shape the present and inform the future. Mr. Broderick will receive the award for teaching 8th-grade students about slavery through the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” written by 18th century enslaved African American poet Phillis Wheatley. Mr. Broderick worked with Melissa Houston, KTM&HC Director of Education, and Cheyney McKnight, historical interpreter and founder of www.notyourmommashistory.com, to develop the program.
“The experience of enslaved individuals and their attempts to assert agency amidst trauma is central to understanding America, past and present,” said Tom Broderick. “I was thrilled to be working with Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center to deepen our student’s understanding of these important topics, and I’m honored to be chosen to receive this award.”
Mr. Broderick, Ms. Houston, and Ms. McKnight, who interprets slavery in 18th and 19th century America, selected the poem by Phillis Wheatley to demonstrate the power of words to move people to action. “Wheatley was a powerful voice against slavery who corresponded with influential figures in her lifetime, including George Washington,” said Ms. McKnight. “By examining her life, an enslaved black woman with no rights, students were challenged to examine their own privilege and agency and how they can use their voices to effect change.”
The award is named after Anna Keeler, the youngest daughter of Timothy and Esther Keeler, who famously operated Keeler Tavern during the American Revolution. As a young woman, Anna Keeler taught at Whipstick School where she was paid ten shillings a week. She spent her life in Ridgefield and lived to be 75 years old.
“We’re delighted to present this award to Tom Broderick at our Fall Party,” said Hildegard Grob, executive director at KTM&HC. “Tom’s approach to education aligns perfectly with ours at Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center – to ensure an education rich in history and civics to help students become well-informed, civic-minded, and eager to engage in our democratic traditions.”
Developed by KTM&HC for a youth audience, the program was part of a series called First Principles: Revisiting the Founding Era launched by several town partners to explore themes of the founding era and their relevance to contemporary society. Revisiting the Founding Era is a three-year national initiative of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presented in partnership with the American Library Association and the National Constitution Center with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
All proceeds from the Fall Party benefit school programs at KTM&HC which provide students from Ridgefield and area schools, including Title 1 Schools, an immersive living-classroom experience in 300 years of history and civics. The party will take place throughout the beautiful 4-acre grounds of KTM&HC, with hors d’oeuvres, dinner, cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, games, entertainment, music, and many exciting live auction and raffle items.
Tickets for the Fall Party and sponsorship opportunities are available here.