A survey by the Brookings Institute revealed that 1 in 4 American adults cannot name the three branches of government .
However, at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita, one teacher is ensuring his students not only know the branches but understand the workings of their government deeply.
Carl Nelson, an AP Government teacher at the high school, has been recognized for his exceptional efforts by being nominated as Teacher of the Year by the Bill of Rights Institute .
Nelson, who took over the struggling AP Government program at Walden Grove in 2019, faced a daunting challenge. When he arrived, the program had dwindled to just five students.
“There were only five students when I got the job here,” Nelson recalls. “And then I was told by the principal if I can’t get the numbers, then I might need to go back to middle school.”
Undeterred, Nelson poured his passion for government and teaching into the program, and the results speak for themselves. Over the past few years, the number of students enrolled in AP Government has skyrocketed—from five students in his first year to 95 students this year.