Coeur d’Alene fifth-grade teacher honored for bringing history to life

Cindy Meyer’s fifth graders at Northwest Expedition Academy do more than memorize names and dates. They step into costumes, take on historical personas and view American history through the eyes of the people who lived it, a teaching approach that helped earn Meyer the Lt. George Farragut Chapter’s 2026 Outstanding American History Teacher honor.

Meyer, who teaches fifth grade in the Coeur d’Alene School District, was recognized by the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter for making a difficult subject more concrete for young learners. In an elementary classroom, where history can feel abstract, her students use performance and imagination to connect with the past in a way that is both memorable and accessible.

The DAR said its Outstanding Teacher of American History award is open to full-time teachers in grades 5-12 in public, private and parochial schools, with only one award allowed per state. The recognition also carries a broader civic message this year as the country moves toward its 250th anniversary, giving the honor significance beyond one classroom in Coeur d’Alene.

The Lt. George Farragut Chapter said it has been active in the Idaho panhandle since 1965, and the chapter’s work reaches well beyond a single award. It has recently sponsored the American History Essay Contest and the Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest, efforts aimed at building interest in the nation’s founding and encouraging student participation in history across grades five through 12.

This year’s response was especially strong. The chapter reported a record number of submissions, helped in part by Kootenai history teacher Bruce Twitchell, underscoring a wider network of educators in North Idaho who are pushing students to engage with the past. The chapter also honored Lakes Middle School history teacher Tanya Lilley as its Outstanding History Teacher in 2023, showing that the recognition has become part of a continuing local tradition.

The national Daughters of the American Revolution says it was founded in 1890 and now has more than 1,000,000 members. Its education work includes teacher resources and youth programs for K-12 students, along with annual contests and recognitions meant to illuminate the nation’s legacy.

A photo from the ceremony identified DAR members Kathy Swanson, Michelle Fansler, R.J. Banks and Stephanie Keaty, along with Meyer’s grandson, Eli Meyer, giving the honor a family-and-community feel that fit the teacher’s hands-on approach.