2025 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award

Award Description:

The National History Day Teacher of the Year Award recognizes two outstanding NHD teachers at the national level. Teachers will nominate themselves, and after the open nomination period, affiliate nominees will be selected. Two national winners, one at the junior level and one at the senior level, will be selected and announced in June 2025. Each national winner will each receive $5,000. 

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligible teachers must have students participating in the National History Day contest (at any level) during the 2025 competition season. Any teacher who meets the eligibility criteria may nominate themselves for consideration.

  • 2024 state nominees for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award are not eligible to apply this year. Nominees from before 2024 may be considered (there must be at least one year between nominations for a national award). 
  • Past national-level Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year or MacGregor/Harris Teacher of the Year winners are not eligible to be nominated. 
  • All nominees need to be full-time teachers or librarians in a public, private, parochial, cyber, or homeschool setting. If a nominee resigns their position before the end of the 2024/2025 academic year, they are ineligible to be considered for the national award. 

The following evaluation criteria will be used during the selection process:

  1. Dedication to the National History Day program.
  2. Inclusion of project-based learning through the National History Day contest in the classroom.
  3. Commitment to working with students on NHD projects over multiple years in an academic or extracurricular setting.
  4. Assisting students to showcase work at local, affiliate, or national level(s). Students do not need to advance to the national or affiliate levels for the teacher to be eligible.
  5. Promoting inspired and creative teaching methods regarding the instruction of history.
  6. Use of primary sources in the classroom.
  7. Implementation of active learning strategies to engage students and promote historical thinking skills.

Nomination Process:

Teachers will nominate themselves for consideration. The nomination form will be available until Friday, January 3, 2025.

access the nomination form

The National History Day Teacher of the Year Award is replacing the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award. Affiliate-level nominees will not receive a stipend.