Waipahu’s Amy Boehning is one of 71 educators across the country recognized for their innovative approaches to teaching history.
We are thrilled to announce that Waipahu’s Ms. Boehning has been selected as Hawai‘i’s high school nominee for the prestigious 2025 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award. The award recognizes innovative teachers who bring history alive for their students.
Ms. Boehning is a National Board Certified teacher with 30 years of experience. She joined the Waipahu team this year and has quickly become an inspirational force.
“Amy came to HTA wanting to spread her teaching wings and challenge our students in creative ways,” says Waipahu Campus Director Neil Bowers. “She has inspired our school community, both students and teachers, to reimagine what learning can look like and to elevate critical thinking across the board.”
This year, Ms. Boehning took HTA’s first cadre of students to the NHD competition, where they performed with excellence.
“It was a huge success,” Bowers says. “Amy has quickly formed strong relationships with her students and encouraged them to push their limits. Their recognition at these events is a testament to her guidance and belief in them.”
For the NHD competition, Ms. Boehning’s students researched original historical materials to build their projects, which included exhibits, documentaries, papers, websites, and performance. You can read more about their projects and their participation in the state NHD competition here.
Ms. Boehning says the opportunity to develop project-based curriculum was a key reason she joined HTA this year.
“I believe that students learn best when they actively engage with the material, apply their knowledge in real-world situations, and develop problem-solving skills that will benefit them beyond the classroom,” she says. “My goal is to create an interactive and thought-provoking learning environment that fosters curiosity and independent thinking.”
Ms. Boehning joins 70 other middle and high school teachers across the nation who are recognized in this year’s NHD award. The national winners will be announced in June. Please join us in congratulating her 🙂
