Eric Romein, a social studies teacher at Goffstown High School, has been awarded the New Hampshire Wal- Mart Teacher of the Year award, an honor that came as a complete surprise.

During a recent department meeting, Romein was presented with a cake and a $100 gift card to Wal- Mart. The school was also given $1,000 to spend on classroom supplies.

Romein has been teaching at Goffstown High School for 10 years, and during that time he’s accomplished much to be proud of. Having taught economics, American civics and U.S. history, he then turned his attention to developing an advanced placement U.S. history curriculum that allows students to earn college credit if they pass the College Board exam.

Romein now shares this class with GHS teacher Bob Ward and is currently working on a curriculum titled Great Decisions.

Social studies department Chairman Kim McCann suggested to Romein that GHS offer a class for seniors that examined world events. A program was selected from the Foreign Policy Association, and Romein is currently fitting this class to the GHS curriculum.

Romein said his teaching philosophy is simple. “I read somewhere that good teachers have three qualities. They are extremely familiar with the curriculum, there is a mutual respect between teacher and students, and students learn from the class. I think these three qualities speak to my teaching and are what I set out to do each day. “I think I won this award because my relationships with students are real. Many people have asked how I can work in a high school and I say how can I not? It’s hard to believe sometimes that I get paid well to be with and teach teenagers. They are hungry for knowledge and are engaging every day.”

Romein is a recognized master teacher and was previously awarded the 2007 National Honor Society Teacher of the Year Award.

“The ceremony was one of the proudest moments of my life because the award was chosen by kids/students. As with this Wal-Mart award, I feel like students appreciate what I do for them. That’s all any one could expect for their lives.”

Having graduated from GHS himself in 1989, he is very proud of the education that he and his fellow teachers are providing to their students and looks forward to seeing his three children attend.

As an active member of the Goffstown community, he has coached the varsity girls soccer team, founded a community service group affiliated with the Rotary and was an adviser of the Youth and Government program at GHS.