HOLLIS – VFW Post 11373 will present awards to two Hollis-Brookline teachers.

One will be presented to Susan Connelly, a history teacher at Hollis Brookline Middle School, and the other will be presented to Trevor Duval, who teaches Advanced Placement civics and U.S. government at Hollis Brookline High School.

The awards will be presented as part of the VFW National Education Teacher of the Year program. Here is information about the teachers as submitted by the Hollis VFW:

Susan Connelly

Susan Connelly is a standout educator with more than 20 years experience teaching fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades. She has made it her mission to inculcate her students with historical perspectives that shape positive views on American exceptionalism and responsible citizenship. She volunteers as an assistant soccer coach, she strives to imbue Patriotism and Positive Citizenship within her students – both in the classroom and on the field.

Connelly is a military child, as her father served during the Vietnam War. During his years of active duty, her father traveled from Japan to Wright Patterson AFB, then out to Vanderberg AFB, Hanscome AFB, and then to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. This military upbringing provided Connelly with a broad, global perspective on what it means to be "American." It also ingrained her with the values of service, honor, compassion and integrity that permeate her classroom.

In her role as a history teacher, she truly believes that students need to know and appreciate U. S. history, within the context of the broader world history, in order to make a positive difference in the future. This year she has organized student trips to see former presidents, senators, governors and other political candidates speak locally. Connelly is globally recognized leader in education. Earlier this year she was invited to present at a pedagogy workshop in Toulouse, France. Previous to that, Connelly was asked to present her educational methodologies and share her ideas with educators in Belize.

Connelly deftly imparts pride in America, our unique role within the global community and effectively brings her global perspective into our community and classrooms. Her humility and service-before-self approach to civic duty percolate through her students.

Connelly embodies and exemplifies the highest virtues of servant leadership and civic responsibility. She is a standout educator among a highly talented pool of conscientiously minded teachers. Or community, state and country are better for having Connelly engaged in the shaping of our future leaders.

Trevor Duval

Trevor Duval is a 1996 graduate of Keene State University with 20 years experience teaching middle school and high school. He earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. He has been a teacher in the Hollis-Brookline High School for the past seven years and a JV baseball coach for the past 10 years. Throughout his tenure, he has made it his life’s work to advance Americanism and imbue positive citizenship in our nations future leaders – both in the classroom and on the field.

Duval is a military child whose parents both served during the Vietnam War. Born in Upper Heyford Air Base in the United Kingdom, he has lived in Texas, Washington and New Hampshire. This upbringing ingrained Duval with the values of service, honor, compassion and integrity that permeate his classroom.

In his role as a civics teacher, there are several objective he has when it comes to his students understanding of America: civic responsibility and civic duty, the idea that they are the stewards of our government, and the idea that while our system may not be perfect, it offers us the opportunity to participate, to have our voices heard and make a difference. To help students grasp these concepts, he guides his students through a thorough reading of the entire U. S. Constitution, debate various topics, meet our state representatives, and bring them to the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery.

In additions to these classroom activities, several years ago, he spearheaded a new program at HBHS – the Veterans in the Classroom program. A former student wanted to create an event where community veterans and members of the civics classes could meet and exchange ideas. Under Duval ‘s leadership, the program had become extremely successful. A new school club has emerged from this program and called the Hollis-Brookline Home Front Club

Duval embodies and exemplifies the highest virtues of servant leadership and civic responsibility. He is an outstanding educator among a highly talented pool of conscientiously minded teachers. Our community, state and country are better for having Duval engaged in the molding of our future leaders.