Grand Canyon teacher named Arizona History Teacher of the Year

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

A rural Arizona teacher who uses history to help middle school students understand democracy, civic responsibility and their own communities was named the state's 2026 History Teacher of the Year.

Janna Raderian, who teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at Grand Canyon School in Grand Canyon National Park, was recognized during the Arizona State Board of Education's Oct. 26 meeting.

Now in her 18th year of teaching, Raderian has developed classroom experiences that encourage students to become historians, museum curators and engaged citizens.

Through partnerships with local and national organizations, her students research community history, examine historical injustices and explore how individuals have shaped American democracy.

Raderian said teaching at a small rural school makes those outside partnerships valuable.

"We are the only K-12 public school in a national park in our country, and we are a very small rural school," she told board members. "And it is essential that I work with organizations beyond my school."

She participated virtually in the recognition ceremony to preserve instructional time for her students.

Raderian credited professional development opportunities through organizations such as the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, White House Historical Association, Supreme Court Historical Society, iCivics and National Constitution Center.

She encouraged other social studies teachers to pursue similar opportunities, many of which are free or provide financial support.

"Civic education is a civic duty we have as Americans, and history provides important civic lessons," Raderian said. "We must equip our youth with the historical knowledge and skills they need to be an engaged citizen in American democracy."

Raderian said she participated in the White House History Teacher Institute in 2023 while preparing to teach five new courses the following school year. The experience provided resources, instructional methods and professional connections she continues to use.

She also emphasized the importance of teachers taking responsibility for their professional growth.

"You must make a point to keep growing, even if no one else is telling you to grow," she said.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne praised Ruderian's work, particularly her ability to connect historical lessons with civic engagement and local history.

Raderian said her approach to teaching civics in today's political climate depends on building relationships with other teachers, historians and educational organizations.

"Through a network of relationships and continuous growth, we can all do our part to ensure all students have an excellent civic education," she said.

Editor’s note:   A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.