• Milne selected by the VFW as the best middle school teacher in the state.
Scott Milne, a History teacher at Star Valley Middle School, has been named 2024 Teacher of the Year for grades 6-8 from Wyoming in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program. Milne’s name has been submitted in the national leg of the contest, and results on his placement there are expected this spring.
“We are proud of him and his efforts to help our Star Valley students understand and appreciate the importance of patriotism,” said Jerry Lainhart, Post Commander for the Star Valley Post 4797, in an interview with SVI Media last week. “It was an honor to submit such a fine example of the teachers we have in our schools for this contest.”
Milne is invited to accept his award, along with a crystal apple and a check for $1000, at the Wyoming VFW State Convention that is scheduled to take place in Cheyenne this June.
Milne’s students are “totally immersed in this process of understanding the Revolution, and who’s on America’s side and who’s on the British side and, I mean, it’s just absolutely phenomenal,” said Lainhart. “The program that he’s developed to help the kids live that experience as they’re doing it – he just does a phenomenal job with that.”
Milne humbly shared his feelings about the honor in an interview with SVI Media. “I am deeply honored to be selected for this award. It is a privilege for me to teach the principles of American democracy and to help students understand and recognize the many sacrifices that have been made for them by the VFW and all who serve this great country. I hope to be able to instill in my students an appreciation and respect for this country, and for all those who have served, and those who have given their lives to defend it and the values and freedoms that we hold so dearly. I love teaching American history and hope that my little efforts can help in promoting a sense of patriotism, but more importantly, a love and respect for one another and the freedoms that we all enjoy.”
Barbara Bagley, a 1st grade teacher at Afton Elementary School, was also submitted as a candidate by VFW Post 4797. She was selected as the winner at the local level and in District 4, which encompasses Southwest Wyoming.
School administrators and teachers are invited each year to nominate any teacher that works with students in the categories of grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Lainhart hopes that more teachers will be nominated for this prestigious award in the coming years.
