St. Matthew’s assistant principal honored with regional history teacher of the year award

Posted by:

Catholic News Agency

St. Matthew’s assistant principal honored with regional history teacher of the year award

St. Matthew Catholic School has announced that Ann Marie Ibar, assistant principal and eighth grade history teacher, was named San Antonio Regional History Fair Teacher of the Year 2015. Ibar was presented the award on Feb. 28 at the Regional History Fair Awards Ceremony held at Texas A&M San Antonio campus.

This distinguished honor is in recognition of Ibar’s decades of teaching excellence and her commitment to the history department at St. Matthew Catholic School, as well as the National History Fair organization.

Ibar has been a long-time champion and leader within the National History Fair organization.The impact that she has made on the organization has been widely credited, but it is the impact that she makes on her students that is most distinguishable.

Ibar’s ability to get students excited about history is one of her greatest skills. Through candid discussion and provoking questions, she leads students through an exploration of more than just dates and events. For the students, she brings to life those events in terms of “what if” and “why it mattered.” Her students begin thinking about events that took place long ago through the lens of modern day acceptability’s, policies, and social norms. She is able to engage students with the data of history by drawing upon current events and threading together how historical events effect today’s political views. She is gifted at helping students who are scratching the surface uncover unique and fascinating perspectives.

Her excitement in the classroom when a student suggests their own ideas about a historical event is contagious. Her encouragement compels students to dig a little deeper, often surprising themselves with how much there is to be gained from history.

St. Matthew Catholic School is the largest PreK through eighth grade school in the archdiocese with an enrollment of over 700 students.