Shager receives Wisconsin Law-Related Teacher of the Year Award

MADISON, March 31, 2006 — Alternative high school Work and Learn Center teacher Erik Shager of Madison will receive the Bill Eau Claire Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence from the State Bar of Wisconsin. The award will be presented on Monday, April 3 at 7:15 p.m. at the District Administration Building, 545 West Dayton Street in Madison by Mike Tobin, Co-chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin Law-related Education Committee.

The Work and Learn Center (WLC) alternative high school provides students in grades 11-12 a four-semester sequence of academic courses and related work experiences that emphasize a core academic curriculum for each semester.

"Through the curriculum he has developed, Erik teaches about democracy and civics on a daily basis. He provides leadership to his school program and the Madison Metropolitan School District," said Art Rainwater, Superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District. "Through these activities he is able to dramatically impact the lives of his students."

Shager has taught 10 years in the high school's Work and Learn Center, which provides a four-semester sequence of academic courses and work experience leading to graduation for students who are "at risk." The program serves a challenging, diverse group of students, many of whom failed to connect academically at a traditional high school.

Shager will receive the award for his efforts in developing a curriculum for students emphasizing social issues and Supreme Court cases both current and past. He has students study such cases as Hilbel v. Six Judicial Court of Nevada – providing identification to police; Plyer v. Doe – schooling and children of illegal immigrants; and Maryland v. Pringle – can police arrest everyone in a car and sort them out later? All of these cases are designed to be of high interest, encourage critical thinking, and at the same time teach about social issues, civic responsibility, and the legal system.

The award, established in 1993, was named after Bill Eau Claire, a teacher in Green Bay who championed law-related education in his classroom, community and the state for many years. The award is presented annually to an educator who has excelled in promoting, developing or teaching law-related education.

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