Washougal eighth grade history teacher honored by VFW

WASHOUGAL — Scott Rainey, an eighth grade U.S. history teacher at Jemtegaard Middle School, has won the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Washington’s Citizenship Education Middle School Teacher of the Year award for 2021-22.

The VFW’s Citizenship Education program stimulates interest in America’s history, democracy and civic responsibility. The program also aims to identify and recognize the best educators who instill a sense of national pride in their students.

Cynthia Fahrenkrug, a colleague and a veteran naval flight officer, has witnessed Rainey’s passion firsthand and knows his dedication and commitment to instill national pride, and after hearing his eighth grade graduation speech, she was determined to nominate him.

Rainey was honored by her gesture. “Getting nominated by Cynthia was an accolade that means the world to me,” he said. “To hear words of praise coming from someone I regard as a hero for putting herself in harm’s way for our country was at another level altogether.”

Rainey and his wife, Katrina, were invited to the VFW banquet and awards ceremony Jan. 15 in Yakima, where — armed with pride, generosity and a few memorabilia of his late father — he accepted the award.

“Carrying his ribbons with me was like taking a part of his legacy with me, giving him the credit and honor due to him as a result of his oversize influence in my life,” Rainey said.

“Mr. Rainey’s work honors our veterans who fought to ensure that all Americans have a voice,” said David Cooke, Jemtegaard’s prinicpal. “Mr. Rainey reminds the students of the many gifts we have in this country and how to make this nation better through their participation.

“Congratulations to Mr. Rainey on this tremendous honor.”