Meet Ms.Ritchie:
History Educator
I am a middle school social studies educator with seven years of experience teaching Texas and United States History. I create engaging classrooms where students actively explore history by asking questions, analyzing primary sources, and connecting the past to their own lives and communities.
My teaching style emphasizes project-based learning, historical research, and community engagement. Students learn to think critically, work with evidence, and communicate their ideas clearly, helping them develop confidence and a genuine curiosity about history.
Student Involvement
My students participate in numerous academic contests throughout the year, increasing student involvement and understanding in history, civic learning, and community engagement, including:
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National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) — American History essay contests
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National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) - American History brochure contest
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Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) - Texas History essay and art contests
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Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) - Patriots' Pen essay contest
In addition to these activities, I operate an elective history club called Junior Historians that encourages students to engage with their local community through collaborative projects and historical exploration. Through civic engagement opportunities, students have attended the county Commissioners Court to advocate for historical preservation. Examples include the restoration and relocation of a 1936 Texas Centennial Marker and the installation of a replica of the William B. Travis "Alamo Letter" at the county courthouse.
Passion Projects
Even beyond the classroom, I live and breathe history. In my free time, I remain actively involved in my community, working on historical projects that support preservation, education, and public understanding of the past. By engaging in this work myself, I aim to model lifelong learning and civic responsibility for students and demonstrate that history is not confined to textbooks or classrooms.
Whenever possible, my primary goal is to involve students directly in these efforts; however, I also pursue projects independently to help preserve and honor local history. This work includes restoring and relocating a 1936 Centennial marker, honoring Texas Rangers by placing memorial crosses at their graves, supporting the restoration of a historic African American cemetery, and leading a long-term World War II digitization project in partnership with the Portal to Texas History through the Private Ritchie Collection to preserve and share records of Texas veterans.
Media Appearances
▪ 2025 – “A Salute to Texas Rangers” in the May edition of The Picayune Magazine
▪ 2025 – Mentioned on pages (91, 157-158) in the book Hidden History of Burnet County by Suzanne Freeman
▪ 2024 – “Llano County 7th Graders Remember the Alamo” published in The Daily Trib
▪ 2024 – “Public School Teacher Named Llano County Chair for Alamo Letter Society” - EINPressWire
▪ 2023 – “History Students Receive Funds for Llano County Marker Project” published in The Daily Trib
▪ 2023 – “Restoring Historic Black Cemetery Top Focus of County Commission” published in The Daily Trib
▪ 2023 – “Cottonwood Shores Couple Scrub Tombstones for Legends of the Falls” published in The Daily Trib
▪ 2022 – “History Hunters: Nichole and Michael Ritchie” in the May edition of The Picayune Magazine
▪ 2022 – “Rediscovered Centennial Marker Moving to Burnet County Courthouse” published in The Daily Trib
▪ 2020 – “Rescuing World War II Service Books” in Stirpes: The Journal of the Texas State Genealogical Society Vol. 59,
Number 3
Organizations
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Texas Council of Social Studies - Middle School Representative
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Texas State Historical Association - Membership and Education Committee
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Edward's Plateau Historical Association - Chair of Student Historians
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Burnet County Historical Commission - Commission Member and Chair of Texas Ranger Marker Committee
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Alamo Letter Society- Chair of Llano County
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National Council of Social Studies
Presentations
Edwards Plateau Historical Association 2025 -
Presenter at the Edwards Plateau Historical Association annual conference for the Texans in World War II
Digitization Project in San Angelo, TX.
Texas State Historical Association 2025 -
Presenter in Texas History Byte by Byte: A Survey of Recent Digital Texas History Projects at the Texas State
Historical Association’s Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
University of North Texas 2024 -
Presenter at the University of North Texas’ Portal Partners Forum for the Texans in World War II Digitization Project in Denton, TX.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
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Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award 2025 - Humanities Texas
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Outstanding 7th Grade Teacher of the Year 2025 - Daughters of the Republic of Texas
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Star of the Month, September 2024 - Education Region Center 13 (Central Texas)
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Mirabeau B. Lamar Texas History Teacher 2024 - San Jacinto Descendants
