Boston Latin School awarded history teacher Mr. David Long both the 2026 Crystal Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Gerald L. Gitner and Family Award for Outstanding Teaching.
The Student Council is responsible for organizing the awards. Each year, students are invited to nominate teachers who they believe are deserving of recognition. Students submitted a record number of 221 nominations this year.
Three teachers are chosen to receive Crystal Apple Awards per year, and one of those teachers is selected for the Gitner and Family Award. Alongside Mr. Long, science teacher Ms. Allison Grecco and English teacher Mr. Jeffrey Mikalaitis were awarded Crystal Apple Awards.
Mr. Long currently teaches AP World History and World History 2. Because AP World History is the first AP course that BLS students take, Mr. Long attempts to ensure that students have a positive experience and achieve success on the exam.
Students in Mr. Long’s class note his commitment to making sure they understand the required material for the AP exam. “I felt very prepared for the AP test,” says Benjamin Southwick (III), one of Mr. Long’s AP students.
Mr. Long consistently offered students support while they were preparing for the exam. The day prior, he gave each student candy and snacks to eat during the break between the multiple choice section and the free response section.
In addition, Mr. Long plans a field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts every year. Through these trips, students are able to make connections between the concepts they learn in class and various pieces of art. Mr. Long even creates a list of key art pieces, including Frida Kahlo’s Dos Mujeres for students to aid their understanding.
“He always encouraged creativity, especially with his Alternat[iv]e Organizers, [a project students create about one topic from each unit using a medium of their choosing],” concludes Southwick when asked about his favorite part of Mr. Long’s class.