NEW YORK, NY - The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History announced the five finalists for the 2012 National History Teacher of the Year Award recently and one is former Fallbrook resident Amy Perruso who teaches social studies at Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. Perruso has been teaching since 2001.

The National History Teacher of the Year award program recognizes the country’s most outstanding American history teachers in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

"[Each of these nominees] represent the very best teaching that this country has to offer and they should be celebrated for their accomplishments." said Lesley Herrmann, executive director of the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

The award carries a $10,000 prize. The winner will be announced at a ceremony this fall. For more information, visit

www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.