Ann Hale Ann Hale of Fort Worth has been named one of 12 recipients of the 2008-09 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award.

Congresswoman Kay Granger and Humanities Texas program officer Liz Borger presented Ms. Hale with he award Monday at Haltom High School in Fort Worth.

Humanities Texas presents awards annually to Texas teachers to recognize exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development and extracurricular programming. Nearly 150 teachers across the state were nominated for the 2008-09 awards.

Ms. Hale, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Truman Hale of Lampasas, teaches AP English literature and English III and IV at Haltom High School.

Connie Sanchez, English department chair, said Ms. Hale works diligently to prepare lessons that create true educational opportunities for her students.

“I try to make connections between the curriculum in my classes and everything else the students may know or have experienced,” said Ms. Hale. “That includes pop culture, history, news and cartoons that are often cited as examples of complex concepts, as well as ever-popular topics among their peers.”

Ms. Hale said that to understand literature, her students must study it in its original historical or cultural context. When teaching “Oedipus Rex” or “The Odyssey,” she includes a look at Greek art, language and culture. Her students study historical materials from the Civil War era to help them understand “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Red Badge of Courage.”

Ms. Hale will receive a $5,000 cash award with an additional $500 for her school for the purchase of instructional materials.