National Archives and University of Kentucky Libraries Announce New Teachers’ Award
Press Release · Friday, October 17, 2014

Washington, DC

Clements Award recognizes promising and innovative Kentucky educators

The National Archives and the University of Kentucky Libraries today announced the creation of the Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award for Civics and History Teachers (Clements Award). Created in partnership with the University of Kentucky Libraries’ Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, the Clements Award recognizes promising and innovative Kentucky educators.

A panel of Kentucky educators will select three teachers annually for ten years. Each teacher will receive $1,000 from the Foundation for the National Archives through the generosity of Clements’ daughter and Foundation Board Member, Bess Clements Abell. Selection criteria include knowledge, enthusiasm, creativity, innovation, and impact on student success.

National Archives educator Charles M. Flanagan will announce the award program at the Kentucky Association of Teachers of History’s annual meeting in Louisville October 18. "We are pleased to partner with the University of Kentucky Libraries to recognize Kentucky’s finest educators," said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. "We are grateful to the Foundation for the National Archives and especially to longtime supporter Bess Clements Abell and her family for making these awards possible."

The Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award for Civics and History Teachers honors the life and career of the late Earle C. Clements and his lifelong commitment to education and public service. Clements’ political career included service as a county sheriff, clerk, and judge; in the state senate and as governor; and in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, where he was a close colleague to Lyndon Baines Johnson. Bess Clements Abell, Clements’ daughter, is a board member of the Foundation for the National Archives, a member of UK Libraries National Advisory Board, and alum of the University of Kentucky.

For information about nominations and submissions, contact: University of Kentucky Libraries: Deirdre A. Scaggs, Associate Dean, Special Collections Research Center, Margaret I. King Library, Lexington KY. 859-257-3653 deirdre@uky.edu

The National Archives is an independent Federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at www.archives.gov.

The Foundation for the National Archives is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. (archivesfoundation.org)

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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