Recognizing the wealth of resources in her community, Pat Grimmer brings world and American History to her high school students in Carbondale through the stories of local veterans. By studying eras and trends such as the Great Depression, the two world wars, cycles of labor unrest and European immigration in the context of their impact on southern Illinois, Ms. Grimmer allows history to truly hit home. In her 12 years of teaching, her students have produced projects ranging from oral histories to full length books, which have earned them regional, state and national history awards.
