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Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio, who teaches AP Government at Irvington High School in Fremont, is one of only three teachers in the U.S. be honored with the 2008 American Civic Education Teacher Award.

The annual award is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, the Center on Congress at Indiana University and the National Education Association. The other recipients are from Montana and Kentucky.

In addition to classroom studies, she oversees the school's competition civics program called "We the People," which teaches students about the Constitution and how to be a responsible citizen.

"Education is a prerequisite for democracy," Cook-Kallio said. "So is civic virtue. Service learning and community service connect academics with real world learning opportunities. Civic education allows students to learn for the sake of learning."

As a part of the honor, Cook-Kallio will join the other winners in Washington, D.C. this summer. There, the teachers will observe committee hearings, meet members of Congress and other key officials and visit sites such as the National Archives and the U.S. Supreme Court.

To learn more about the Center for Civic Education, visit www.civiced.org.

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