NCA’s Nelson Marks At National AP U.S. History Reading

Academic programs and curricula are only as effective as the instructors who carry them out – and here at NCA, we have quite a lot of effective, if not excellent, instructors! One person comes to mind, a staple and long time member of the NCA Community, who recently spent time on a national stage.

High school History teacher David Nelson spent nine days in Louisville, Kentucky grading AP US History exams. He graded 783 essays and gained great knowledge of the new format of the exam. The week in Louisville also gave Mr. Nelson the opportunity to network with thousands of high school and college history teachers. Mr. Nelson says of the experience,

I am grateful to represent NCA and have the chance to become a better History teacher. The things I am learning are allowing me to better equip my students for the AP US History exam!

Mr. Nelson has been teaching at Northside for quite some time and mostly, what students remember (other than receiving top-notch history instruction), is that he really cares about them. This is demonstrated by the measures that he takes in his classroom to ensure that each student fully understands the material. From trips to Washington, D.C. to dressing as (and acting out as) historical figures, Mr. Nelson uses these means to bring the material to life in a relational and visual way.

When Mr. Nelson asks his classrooms, and former students, what government’s main job is, almost 100% reply, “protection!” In some small way, we like to think that Mr. Nelson’s job means protection – in that through his care and his excellence in instruction, he protects the minds and hearts of his students past, present and those to come!