Keith Lindsey, an educator at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass (SCAPA), won a Platypus Award from Mental Floss Magazine. The awards are given to the country’s most unique and innovative teachers.
A fifth grade social studies and language arts teacher, Lindsey and nine other educators from across the country were chosen out of about 250 nominations.
For this year’s awards, students had the opportunity to go online and nominate their favorite teachers.
Additionally, Mental Floss has partnered with the nonprofit organization Donors Choose that allows each Platypus Award winner a chance at crowdfunding supplies for their classrooms.
Lindsey raised about $1,000 to use towards five Chromebooks for his students.
“I combine performance and history because textbooks give kids a limited view. I want them to realize there is a wealth of information out there on whatever they’re interested in,” Lindsey said to Mental Floss. “I want them to take ownership of the material. Acting helps that. The word enthusiasm is derived from Greek, meaning “in the gods.” I want my students to feel that divine spark.”
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