Gateway High School teacher Mark Wallace made his own place in his favorite subject -- history.
In September, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America named Wallace this year's Pennsylvania History Teacher of the Year.
"He sets an example statewide for what excellence is really about," said Dale Lumley, assistant superintendent of secondary education.
"It's nice to know the state is recognizing a teacher that we at Gateway have always appreciated for the outstanding job he does."
The award comes with a $1,000 honorarium and puts Wallace in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year award. It came with an archive of history books and materials for the school library from Gilder Lehrman Institute.
It's not the first major recognition for Wallace, who won the Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Chicago in 2006. He was a finalist for Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year in 2005.
During the ceremony at which he received his award, Wallace thanked his peers, family and mentors for fueling his desire to teach.
"In some ways, my job has been easy: I've had the opportunity to teach the best and brightest that have come through this district and it has been a pleasure," he said. "In fact, I've had entire families in classes over the years.
"These kids have energized me and challenged me to perform over the years, and following their lives and careers after they graduate has been a source of great pride."
Mark Spinola, social studies teacher and president of Gateway Education Association, called Wallace one of the most beloved and respected teachers in the school.
"Students love Mark because it is evident he is passionate about history and has a humorous and gregarious nature," Spinola said. "He has a storytelling gift and doesn't make history come alive by dressing in period clothing or staging dramatic re-enactments -- his passion and storytelling does it for him."
Wallace earned his bachelor's degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1981. He has taught history for 19 years at Gateway, where he has chaired the social studies department since 1999 and coaches boys' varsity golf.
Outside the classroom, Wallace is a committee member for the Pittsburgh chapter of Autism Speaks, which raises awareness and money.
Wallace has been involved in Autism Speaks for 13 years, since his son, Matthew, now 16, was diagnosed with autism. Over the last 10 years, he has led teams of Gateway students and teachers in the Autism Speaks walk in Pittsburgh, raising more than $17,000.
