Rogers Social Studies Teacher Named Newport Teacher of the Year

Coleen Hermes, who also serves as the high school's department chair, was recognized by Supt. John H. Ambrogi on Thursday as the district's annual award winner.

A 13-year veteran of the Newport Public Schools, Hermes received her Bachelor of Arts in History at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and her Teaching Certificate at Salve Regina University.

The award is the latest of several given to Hermes for her work over the years.

According to the school department, in 2010, she was the recipient of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) National History Day Teacher of Merit Award for Rhode Island, and selected as the PBS National History Day Teacher of Merit National Finalist, finishing in the top eight nationally.

She received the 2011 Patricia Behring Award—as Rhode Island’s National History Day Teacher of the Year, was the 2011 recipient of the Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit Award for the Rogers High School Social Studies Department—in recognition of teaching the George Washington Letter Essay Contest, and Rogers High School Social Studies Department was honored by the Rhode Island League of Women Voters in 2011 for increasing civic responsibility.

Most notably, according to Ambrogi, Rogers High School began participating in National History Day Activities in 2007—and, in the years to follow, Rogers’ students have won in all categories at the State Fair, with many of them advancing to National Competition.

While this year, the acclaim falls to Hermes, as Ambrogi noted, "Mrs. Hermes is representative of the many outstanding teachers who work in the Newport Public Schools."