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Nominations are open year round for the Massachusetts and National History Teacher of the Year programs to honor outstanding teachers of American history across the country. The Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year will automatically be the state's candidate for the National History Teacher of the Year award. The award is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI).
We are seeking outstanding K–12 teachers who find creative ways to bring history alive in the classroom and in communities.
Teachers will be selected based on the following:
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will honor each statewide winner with an award of $1,000, a certificate of recognition, an invitation to attend a Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, and the opportunity for the winner's school to become a GLI Affiliate School. The Institute will also present the winner's school with a collection of American history classroom resources, given in honor of the state winner, for use in the school library or resource center.
To nominate a teacher and learn more about the award, visit the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History's website or contact the National History Teacher of the Year coordinator at nhtoy@gilderlehrman.org or 646-366-9666. You may also email the educator recognition mailbox at educatorrecognition@doe.mass.edu for more information.
History Teacher Nipumuc Regional High School Mendon-Upton Regional School District
Darcy Daniels teaches U.S. history and is an advisor to both the class of 2026 and a club for new immigrant students called Friendly Faces. Darcy is a tour guide for the Freedom Trail and an instructor at Dean College. A teacher for over 20 years in three countries and four states, she is also a James Madison Memorial Fellow and a Teach for America alum. Her best decision was to marry her college sweetheart Michael; together they have two daughters named Wendy and Penny.
Emily Silas, The English High School, Boston Public Schools Emily works to develop and implement rigorous, responsive, and relevant curriculum through collaborations with organizations such as the Boston Debate League, WGBH, Facing History and Ourselves and the Massachusetts Bar Association. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students to develop ethical reasoning and advocacy skills through their study of history, government, and politics.
Michele Gabrielson, Wellesley Middle School, Wellesley Public Schools Michele Gabrielson is an educator who challenges her students to think critically and make real-world connections through innovative teaching methods and by providing an empowering learning environment in which students can be their authentic selves. Prioritizing the use of primary sources, Michele helps her students explore the nuances of identity and place by analyzing social and legal issues in a historical context.
Former Massachusetts History Teachers of the Year
Last Updated: December 10, 2024