Topeka ? When Seaman High School decided to start a government course on civil and criminal rights, Susan Sittenauer volunteered to teach it.

Now, more than 18 years and hundreds of students later, Sittenauer is the latest recipient of the national Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year award from a group affiliated with the American Bar Assn.

The Topeka teacher is to receive her award — and $1,000 check — during the association’s annual meeting Aug. 9 in San Francisco. The award is sponsored by the American Lawyers Auxiliary, a network of lawyers’ spouses.

“Fortunately for me, I’ve just had a lot of students interested in taking the class,” Sittenauer said Thursday.

About 130 students take one of the five sections of the semesterlong course each year. When the course started in 1984, about 40 students enrolled.

Sittenauer uses mock trials and role-playing exercises to teach students about constitutional law.

Kansas Court of Appeals Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr. reviews court rulings with students, and a polygraph expert from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation gives a presentation as part of Sittenauer’s curriculum.

She said she tried to make issues of constitutional law applicable to students’ lives.

“It means more,” she said. “They learn better.”

Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland praised Sittenauer for bringing energy and enthusiasm to her classes and keeping abreast of legal issues. McFarland said it was important for young people to learn about the judicial system.

“It engenders an understanding of the system and a respect for the system,” McFarland said.

Nominating Sittenauer for the award was the Kansas Citizen and Law Education Project.