BORA President-elect named
to Nunn Teacher Hall of Fame

Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) President-elect Sharon Graves has been named to the Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to the teaching profession.

Graves, social studies teacher at Clark-Moores Middle School in Richmond, has been cited particularly for her work in assisting young people in learning and understanding the importance and significance of Civil War history.

The Waco resident is one of three Kentucky teachers who will be honored in February at Frankfort. Established in 2000 through a gift from former Gov. Louie B. Nunn, the first class of Hall of Fame teachers was inducted in 2008. New members are inducted each year.

The Hall of Fame is headquartered at Western Kentucky University, which has been one of the top producers of teachers, counselors, school administrators and other school personnel in the Commonwealth.

Graves has taught early American history for 23 years, 22 of those at Clark-Moores. The Kentucky Hall of Fame induction is her fourth state honor as a teacher, having previously won the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Kentucky History Teacher of the Year in 2005,  Kentucky Department of Education Teacher of Excellence in 2008 and the Kentucky Historical Society Award of Merit in 2009.

Where Civil War history is concerned, Graves gives her students basic instructions about the war and each student picks a topic and activity they research in the library during and after school. As Graves covers other history topics required by her curriculum, students continue their Civil War research throughout the year until they present their work at the Battle of Richmond’s Living History program each spring.

Students make their own period attire from donated fabrics, give guided tours to fourth- and fifth-grade students from other schools and conduct a number of living history demonstrations. Students also assist with BORA re-enactments and other activities that count toward 20 hours of community service required of each student in Graves’ class.

The Living History program features Civil War activities and demonstrations that focus on such topics as period clothing and flags, stories about War-Between-the-States personalities, cooking, infantry drilling, agriculture and battlefield officers and commanders.

Through collaboration with BORA, Graves has grown participation in the Battle of Richmond’s Living History program from about 100 students 12 years ago to more than 1,100 students this past year.