Jamie Naragon

Jamie Naragon has been teaching high school history for 23 years at Maumee High School in Maumee, Ohio, where she now teaches in the same classroom that first inspired her to become an educator. Naragon teaches U.S. History, World History, and AP courses, reaching more than 200 students annually.

Naragon is known for her project-based teaching style and deep community involvement. She regularly partners with local institutions to bring history to life, from mock trials of John Wilkes Booth with input from city officials and lawyers to collaborative oral history projects tied to America’s 250th anniversary. “History and government serve as both a mirror and a map,” Naragon says, “helping students see themselves in the greater narrative of what our society means.”

Her students’ America 250 project will combine interviews, primary source research, and performance to showcase the history of their city, with student work hosted by the Maumee Valley Historical Society. Naragon believes these experiences spark curiosity and equip students to be “active, enthusiastic, and informed citizens.”

Outside the classroom, Naragon is active in her community as a club sponsor and historian, while also indulging her passion for reading, caring for her dogs, and even exploring as a paranormal investigator. She says her goal as an educator is simple: “If I can spark any level of curiosity to have ongoing learning, that will be an accomplishment.”