Donna Morin, a social studies teacher at Alvirne High School in Hudson, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Mary Susan Leahy Civics Educator of the Year Award. She was recognized at the NH EDie Awards on Saturday, June 7, at the DoubleTree Hilton in Manchester.

The award honors a K-12 New Hampshire educator who excels at teaching civics (content, skills, and attitudes) and who has taken on state-wide leadership in civics education. NHCSS Board Member Jeff Peterson presented the award to Donna, saying “she is an incredibly positive and upbeat individual and teacher. Students respond to her energy and passion and, consequently, they actively engage in her classes.”

He described her as a dedicated and enthusiastic educator who always makes her students her top priority. “Over the years, she has brought dozens of elected officials into her classes, including state representatives, Governor John Sununu, and U.S. Representative Annie Kuster,” said Peterson. “Her goal has always been to guide students as they develop the values and skills needed for informed and engaged participation in civic life.”

Acknowledging her colleagues in her acceptance speech, Morin said, “The administration, the teachers, and support staff at Alvirne are there for each other, no matter what. Simply speaking, we show up. The enthusiasm for teaching and learning in our department is contagious.”

Morin is a member of the school district’s Social Studies Curriculum Committee which is revising the district’s K-12 curriculum to meet national and state frameworks. In this role, she will help to create curriculum documents and assessments for social studies classes throughout the district’s K-12 classrooms.