VOLGA Jordan Fast of Sioux Valley High Schoolis one of two teachers chosen by the South Dakota State Historical Society for this years History Teacher of the Year award. Fast and Nancy Black of Webster Area Elementary School will be honored at the state history conference in Deadwood on May 9.
This is my ninth year at Sioux Valley and my thirteenth year teaching, Fast said. I became a teacher because my parents inspired me to be a teacher. My mother is a private Christian school superintendent. I always just really had a passion for both working with students and for social studies.
Fast teaches history, geography and government to students in grades 10-12.
We try to do lifelike projects that facilitate outside learning, he said. Weve tried to incorporate things like tours through the state legislature, bringing in veterans, geography projects that tie in picking state football championships with geographic factors. We do things from registering to vote, to writing lawmakers, to breaking down statistical data about South Dakotas current trends.
He said customizing the learning experience keeps students engaged.
We try to tie in (students) personal interests into the field of study that were looking at, Fast said. We really try to make social studies lifelike and connect into what students might be interested in professionally or in terms of their interests whether thats hunting, fishing, fashion or the medical fields. Thats where making it lifelike, practical and providing those opportunities for students comes in. You really can change their perspective.
He said students respond by taking school seriously.
Theres a stigma that students dont care or dont work hard, Fast said. But I would say that every year that Ive taught, Ive seen students raising the bar for expectations. Many of them are now doing college-level classes earlier. Theres a lot of negativity towards young students, but I see we have some really hard workers and a very bright future at least here in eastern South Dakota.
He said if students learn to think critically, he considers himself a success.
If they have a passion for learning, weve succeeded, Fast said. Not every students favorite subject will be social studies, right? But if they have a passion for trying to figure out answers, trying to understand other people, creating common understanding for the world around them or seeking solutions thats when I think were heading in the right direction. Thats when I would assess that weve had a successful year.
In 2016, Fast received the states National History Day Teacher of the Year award. He was also nominated for the Gilder Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award in 2020. This is the first time hes received Teacher of the Year accolades from the state historical society.
Just being nominated is quite an honor, Fast said. I dont like a lot of publicity. I just like showing up and doing my job. Thats the fun part. But when other people nominate you such as my administrators and (Michael Aasness) the art teacher here who was also part of the nominating process its honoring because theyre so good at their profession. I want to thank them. Sioux Valley is a great place to be, and Im happy to be a part of it.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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