Paul Miller, a teacher at Juanita High School, has been chosen as the 2012 winner of the University of Washington’s Pressly Prize. UW considers the recipient of the award to be the finest history teacher in the State of Washington.

Miller reacted to the news saying, “I am humbled and honored by this award, which is extra special to me for the way it puts the opinions of our greatest stakeholders, the students, first.”

Miller has taught history, social studies, and humanities at Juanita High School for 13 years. He has a fascination with the study of the past and an ability to make history “come alive.”

All Pressly Prize candidates are selected mainly on the basis of letters of nomination from students currently or recently enrolled at the UW.  Matthew King, a 2011 graduate of the UW submitted the letter of nomination forMiller. In his nominating letter, he says: “First impressions are always important, and the first impression I had of Mr. Miller was his classroom. It remains difficult for me to describe, but perhaps the best way to think about it is if you blew up a Barnes & Noble and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and left the remnants scattered about a single space. It was a chaotic yet organized environment, one that would make for a memorable learning experience.”

Final selections also take into account interviews with school administrators. Gary Moed, principal of Juanita High Schools, said, “Mr. Miller’s teaching style has students thinking and on the edge of the seats. He has a way of making the subject memorable and exciting for students.”

The Thomas and Cameron Pressly Prize was instituted in 1982 to honor the UW History Department’s esteemed colleague Tom Pressly and his wife, Cameron.  Tom Pressly taught for more than 40 years in the History Department. He retired in 1988, but not before making clear his deep commitment to building bridges between university-level and high school-level social studies programs throughout the state. To honor his abiding interest, the school annually recognizes an outstanding secondary school history teacher.

A ceremony to award the prize to Paul Miller will take place from 3-4 p.m. May 14 at UW’s Kane Hall.