History Teacher of the Year

Honoring Excellence in Teaching since 2004

Group photo of many of the previous NHTOY winners at the 2023 Ceremony

National History Teachers of the Year at the 2023 award ceremony. From left to right: Kathleen Cochrane Kean (2004), Jill Szymanski (2013), Joseph Welch (2018), Mary Huffman (2015), Sergio de Alba (2020), Matthew Vriesman (2023), Tim Bailey (2009), Sara Ziemnik (2017), Stacy Hoeflich (2011), Rosanne Lichatin (2005), Kevin Cline (2016), Misha Matsumoto Yee (2022), Gerry Kohler (2006).

Each year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute seeks out the finest history teachers in the United States so we can acknowledge the important work they do. Since 2004, we have recognized 1,000+ outstanding elementary, middle, and high school teachers in each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and US Territories.

Each state convenes a committee of history teachers, professors, and other education professionals to review the nominated teachers in their state. Each state winner is awarded $1,000 and becomes a nominee in the national contest. The national panel of eminent historians, former winners, and master teachers selects one national winner for the $10,000 award.

National Winners State Winners

Meet the 2025 State Winners

Click any of the headshots below to see a full-size image with the winner’s name, state, and school.

Additional Information

Nominations

Nomination Information

In order for a teacher to be considered for the current year’s award, they must be nominated by April 30 of that year. Nominations can be made by a student, parent, colleague, or principal or other administrator familiar with the teacher’s work. Self-nominations are not accepted.

How to Nominate: All nominations are made on the Gilder Lehrman website by completing a short form with the teacher’s contact information.

Nominate a Teacher

Eligibility

Any full-time K–12 educator who teaches American history (including state and local history) as either an individual subject or as part of other subjects, such as social studies, reading, or language arts, is eligible for the award, provided they have at least three years of classroom teaching experience.

The award recognizes exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers. Eligible generalist and specialist teachers in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and US territories are encouraged to apply.

Past state and national winners are not eligible. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Award Criteria

All nominated teachers are evaluated according to the following criteria:

A demonstrated commitment to teaching American history
Evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom
Effective use of documents, artifacts, historic sites, oral histories, and other primary sources to engage students with American history

Consideration of these factors will be based on the grade level taught in order to accommodate the teaching requirements of both generalist and specialist teachers.

Supporting Materials

Nominees will submit the following:

A current resume/curriculum vitae
A sample lesson plan, student project, or unit that demonstrates the use of primary sources (up to 15 pages)
One letter of support from a supervisor or administrator. This can be a former or current supervisor. Supervisors can include but are not limited to department chairs, principals, or assistant principals.

Nominees may optionally include the student work in the supporting materials:

This student work may be submitted in any form, including written work, photographs of classroom displays, student-created websites, documentaries, etc.
Any student work submitted will be included in the fifteen-page limit.

Deadline: All supporting materials for the current year’s award must be received by the Gilder Lehrman Institute by May 31. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Selection Process

State Selection Process

Each state convenes a committee to evaluate the award materials. Committee members may include history educators, professors, former state winners, and education professionals. The selection committee reviews all completed applications and selects the state winner from both generalist and specialist applicants using separate rubrics that fairly judge their individual strengths.

State winners are announced in July. All applicants will be notified at that time.

National Selection Process

A panel of judges comprising the previous national winner, renowned historians, professors, and teachers reads and evaluates all state winner materials using separate rubrics that judge both generalists and specialists fairly and selects the National History Teacher of the Year.

The National History Teacher of the Year is announced and honored in the fall.

Important Dates

Date	Description
April 30	Deadline for nominations for current year. Nominate a teacher here. Teachers nominated between April 30 and May 31 may submit for this year's or next year's award.
May 31	Deadline for nominees to submit supporting materials.
July	State winners announced.
Fall	National winner announced and honored.

Navigation:

Honoring Excellence in Teaching since 2004

Meet the 2025 State Winners

Additional Information

Nominations

Nomination Information

Eligibility

Eligibility

Award Criteria

Award Criteria

Supporting Materials

Supporting Materials

Selection Process

State Selection Process

National Selection Process

Important Dates

Important Dates

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