College Park, Maryland – May 13, 2024 National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce the teachers honored as the 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year nominees. Each NHD affiliate may nominate one middle school teacher and one high school teacher per year for this prestigious award. In addition to celebrating outstanding history scholarship and innovative classroom instruction, the award comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

The 102 teachers selected as the 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year nominees represent 50 of NHD’s 58 affiliates. NHD affiliates include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and international schools in Europe and Asia. Each nominee is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest. All nominees receive $500.

“The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award nominees always represent the best in history education,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “As NHD celebrates our 50th anniversary year, I couldn’t be more proud of these teachers. Every day, they demonstrate their commitment to excellence in teaching, the rigorous study of history and primary sources, and the creativity and drive to engage students all across the country and world in National History Day.”

One national winner in the middle school (junior) division and one national winner in the high school (senior) division will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians and announced on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the National History Day National Contest Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland. The Awards Ceremony will begin around 8 am and will be livestreamed at nhd.org/awards-ceremony.

This program is generously sponsored by the late Patricia Behring, a philanthropist and champion for education.

We are pleased to introduce the 2024 nominees for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award:

NHD AffiliateTeacher Name, School, and CityDivision
AlabamaMs. Kathy Paschal, Stanhope Elmore High School, MillbrookSenior  
AlaskaMs. Dena Royal, Yakov E Netsvetov, AtkaJunior  
AlaskaMrs. Heather Damario, West Valley High School, FairbanksSenior  
American SamoaMs. Vi Harrington, Tafuna Elementary School, Pago PagoJunior  
American SamoaMs. Rhonda Tuia, Samoana High School, UtuleiSenior  
ArizonaMrs. Stacey Trepanier, New Vistas Center for Education, ChandlerJunior  
ArizonaMs. MacKenzie Uliasz, Accelerated Elementary and Secondary Schools: Greenfields, TucsonSenior  
ArkansasMrs. Tracie Ashley, Prairie Grove Junior High School, Prairie GroveJunior  
ArkansasMs. Mary Gibson, Harrison High School, HarrisonSenior  
CaliforniaMr. Chuck Diep, Roger W. Temple Intermediate School, RosemeadJunior  
CaliforniaMs. Aditi Doshi, Van Nuys High School, Van NuysSenior  
ColoradoMr. Zach Crandall, Southern Hills Middle School, BoulderJunior  
ColoradoMrs. Kirsten Schuman, SkyView Academy, Highlands RanchSenior  
ConnecticutMrs. Jenn McMunn, Mansfield Middle School, Storrs MansfieldJunior  
ConnecticutMr. Matthew Hay, Pathways Academy of Technology and Design, East HartfordSenior  
DelawareMr. Andrew Bedell, Cab Calloway School of the Arts, WilmingtonJunior  
DelawareMr. Brent Freccia, Newark Charter High School, NewarkSenior  
FloridaMr. Timothy Flynn, Okaloosa STEMM Academy, ValparaisoJunior  
FloridaMrs. Paige Bagby, Creekside High School, St JohnsSenior  
GeorgiaMs. Yvette Milligan, Woodland Middle School, StockbridgeJunior  
GeorgiaMs. Angelina K. Muskin, Herschel V. Jenkins High School, SavannahSenior  
GuamMr. Brian Palaganas, Andersen Middle School, YigoJunior  
HawaiiDr. Patricia Wurst, Sacred Hearts School, LahainaJunior  
HawaiiMr. Sean Wagner, Waiakea High School, HiloSenior  
IdahoMrs. Sabrina Geiser, Madison Junior High School, RexburgJunior  
IdahoMr. James Langan, Caldwell Senior High School, CaldwellSenior  
IllinoisMrs. Patricia Romano Meegan, Philip Rogers Elementary School, ChicagoJunior  
IllinoisMrs. Jamie Nash-Mayberry, Cobden High School, CobdenSenior  
IndianaMr. Dylan Ringler, Edgewood Middle School, WarsawJunior  
IndianaMrs. Lynn Norris, Sullivan High School, SullivanSenior  
IowaMrs. Linda Vanden Bosch, Clarinda Jr.-Sr. High School, ClarindaSenior  
KansasMrs. Maria Arnold, Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School, TopekaJunior  
KansasMr. Chris Jaax, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, WichitaSenior  
KentuckyMr. David Trueblood, St. Nicholas Academy, LouisvilleJunior  
KentuckyMrs. Shannon Slate, Christian County Public Schools, HopkinsvilleSenior  
LouisianaMrs. April Butler-Goudeau, North Central High School/Middle School, LebeauJunior  
LouisianaMrs. Kim Gardner, Saint Paul’s School, MandevilleSenior  
MaineMrs. Jessica Kelly, Scarborough Middle School, ScarboroughJunior  
MaineMrs. Kathryn Cassesse, Greely Middle School, Cumberland CenterJunior  
MarylandMrs. Erin Spahr, Urbana Middle School, IjamsvilleJunior  
MarylandMs. Stephanie Gomer, Poolesville High School, PoolesvilleSenior  
MassachusettsMr. Norman Everett, Leicester Middle School, LeicesterJunior  
MassachusettsMrs. Julia Atwood, Mansfield High School, MansfieldSenior  
MichiganMrs. Michelle Slaviero, Boulan Park Middle School, TroyJunior  
MichiganMs. Amy Bielat, Hamtramck High School, HamtramckSenior  
MinnesotaMs. Stacey Lambrecht, St. Mary’s School, Bird IslandJunior  
MinnesotaMs. Catherine Nachbar, Duluth East High School, DuluthSenior  
MississippiMrs. Abigail Myers, Simpson Central School, PinolaJunior  
MississippiMs. Alexandria Drake, JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School, TougalooSenior  
MissouriMrs. Kathy Laffoon, Liberty Middle School, LibertyJunior  
MissouriMr. Paul Arnold, Richland R-1, EssexSenior  
MontanaMrs. Jessica Van Kerkhove, Potomac School District, PotomacJunior  
MontanaMs. Victoria Nytes, Superior High School, SuperiorSenior  
NebraskaMr. Brent Myers, Mission Middle School, BellevueJunior  
NebraskaMr. Shane Adams, Ralston High School, RalstonSenior  
NevadaMs. Margarita Morales, Victoria Fertitta Middle School, Las VegasJunior  
NevadaMr. Christopher Rawlins, West Career and Technical Academy, Las VegasSenior  
New HampshireMs. Kristin Brown, Kingswood Regional Middle School, WolfeboroJunior  
New HampshireDr. Tristan K. Husby, Pelham High School, PelhamSenior  
New MexicoMrs. Dayna Jones, La Plata Middle School, Silver CityJunior  
New YorkMrs. Jodi Thompson, Herricks Middle School, AlbertsonJunior  
New YorkMs. Jeanne-Marie Marziliano, Bay Shore High School, Bay ShoreSenior  
NHD ChinaMr. Nathaniel Potson, QSI International School of ShenzhenSenior  
NHD ChinaMr. William Zander, SMIC Private School – ShanghaiJunior  
NHD InternationalMs. Christy Halcom, MEF International Schools, IstanbulSenior  
NHD InternationalMr. Matthew Elms, Singapore American School, SingaporeJunior  
NHD KoreaMr. Nicholas Kaschub, Daegu International School, Dong-guJunior  
NHD KoreaMs. Savannah Bamburg, Korea International School, Jeju, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-siSenior  
North CarolinaMr. Chadwick Stokes, E. B. Frink Middle School, La GrangeJunior  
North CarolinaMs. Naomi Barlaz, Cary Academy, CarySenior  
North DakotaMr. Zach Hochhalter, Fargo North High School, FargoSenior  
OhioMrs. Angela DeWitt
Mrs. Leia Innes, Sailorway Middle School, Vermilion
Junior
OhioMrs. Marina Dieringer, Canal Winchester High School, Canal WinchesterSenior  
OklahomaMrs. Corene Jackson, Grove School, ShawneeJunior  
OklahomaMrs. Ellen Carroll, Summit Christian Hybrid School, Oklahoma CitySenior  
OregonMr. Patrick O’Brien, Seven Peaks School, BendJunior  
OregonMr. John Santella, Westview High School, PortlandSenior  
Rhode IslandMrs. Jodi Belford, Western Hills Middle School, CranstonJunior  
Rhode IslandMs. Rita Kerr-Vanderslice, Ponaganset High School, N. ScituateSenior  
South CarolinaMs. Candace Johnson, Whittemore Park Middle School, ConwayJunior  
TennesseeMrs. Whitney Joyner, Kirkwood Middle School, ClarksvilleJunior  
TennesseeMs. Rebecca Byrd, Sevier County Junior High School, SeviervilleSenior  
TexasMr. Chad Hannoni, University Prep, GrapevineJunior  
TexasMrs. Megan Souchek, New Caney High School, New CaneySenior  
UtahMr. James Romrell, Lakeridge Junior High, OremJunior  
UtahMrs. Abbie Butler, Mountain Heights Academy, West JordanSenior  
VermontMr. Keith Harrington, Poultney Elementary School, PoultneyJunior  
VermontMr. Drew Gordon, South Burlington High School, South BurlingtonSenior  
VirginiaMs. Rachel O’Leary
Mrs. Jill Shull
Mrs. Nellie Williams, Haycock Elementary School, Falls Church
Junior
VirginiaMr. Andrew Abeyounis, Grafton High School, YorktownSenior  
WashingtonMrs. Emily Ovenell, Royal Middle School, Royal CityJunior  
WashingtonMr. Stephen Hart, Castle Rock High School, Castle RockSenior  
WisconsinMrs. Marci Kline
Mrs. Dayce McAndrews
Mrs. Beth McDonald
Mrs. Karyn Tripp
Ms. Hallie Weibel
Mr. Nicholas Wiese, Holmen Middle School, Holmen
Junior
WisconsinMr. Joe Boeck, Hmong American Peace Academy, MilwaukeeSenior  

Please direct press inquires to communications@nhd.org.

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About National History Day (NHD): NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, The Better Angels Society, the Bezos Family Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Behring Global Educational Foundation, and the National Park Service. For more information, visit nhd.org.

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