Christine Hochkeppel In mid February, history teacher Greg Amore was the second consecutive EPHS history teacher to win the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Rhode Island teacher of the year award.

EAST PROVIDENCE – Students in Gregg Amore's first-period Advance Placement (AP) U.S History could not have hoped for a better way to start their school day at East Providence High School last Thursday. Feeding off of the award-winning teacher's energy and passion, the class of 21 seniors engaged in discourse on current events and history at 7:30 a.m.

Senior David Barnes said current events, which serves as the opening 15 minutes of the 85-minute period, is everyone's favorite, but Mr. Amore also makes history interesting.

Miranda Cummings, an EPHS senior and the school's Senate Youth representative who recently returned from a week-long trip to Washington D.C. (see sidebar), concurred.

"I love him. He is a great, enthusiastic teacher," she said. "I've been very lucky with my history teachers here."

The reason Miranda has loved her EPHS history teachers may be more than luck.

In mid February, Mr. Amore was the second consecutive EPHS history teacher to win the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Rhode Island teacher of the year award; Richard Martin won last year. Mr. Amore's achievement comes as no surprise to his students and colleagues, who said they are very happy for him.

David, Miranda and history department chairman Dave Shadrick said they are very proud of Mr. Amore's achievement.

"He is a very deserving recipient and a great teacher. It is such an honor for us to have two state winners in a row," Mr. Shadrick said. "[Mr. Amore and Mr. Martin] are both very dedicated and make history come alive."

Mr. Amore said he was in the statewide running against about 38 applicants. He was nominated after winning the Bristol Chapter DAR award in late 2007. He said the applicants mainly had to show dedication to and involvement in history, which he had no problem proving from his 20 years experience as a teacher and history foreman.

Mr. Amore teaches the AP U.S. History class, which passing students can use for college credit, a senior current events class and freshmen civics. He ran EPHS' Close Up program, which joins motivated high school history students nationwide in Washington D.C.

Mr. Amore heads the EPHS Senate Youth, is involved with a federal-funded, RI Historical Society team of eight teachers that travels to historical hot spots to hear leading professors speak and give lesson materials and is working on a master's in public policy at New England College. The EPHS alumn earned both a bachelor's in History and master's in U.S. History from Providence College.

For his state award, DAR sponsored a breakfast award ceremony at Chellos in Warwick three weeks ago, where Mr. Amore spoke in front of 150 attendees. He said he was presented a $250 stipend and framed parchment certificate.

Mr. Amore has been automatically entered into the running for the DAR national award. He hopes to be the first-ever Rhode Island national winner and will find out in early June.

By Jeremy Rosen

jrosen@eastbaynewspapers.com