COLLEGE PARK, MD – June 11, 2026 – National History Day in New Mexico is proud to announce the teacher honored as New Mexico's 2026 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award nominees. Lee Wilson from Silver High School in Silver City was selected to represent New Mexico in the high school, or senior division. Lee has taught multiple NHD national finalists in his 11 years teaching NHD, and has continued to strengthen a world-class program during his tenure while engaging with and gaining support from his community.
"Lee Wilson is one of those teachers who quietly goes about his work every day and changes lives without ever asking for recognition. For nearly 30 years, he has challenged students to think, ask questions, and look beyond the surface of history to understand the people and stories behind it," said Dr. William Hawkins, Superintendent of Silver Consolidated Schools. "What I appreciate most about Lee is that he has always put students first. This recognition isn't something he chased. In fact, if you know Lee, he'd probably rather talk about his students' accomplishments than his own. Whether it's in the classroom, through National History Day, on a committee, or simply helping a student who needs encouragement, he shows up and does the work. This recognition is well deserved because it reflects what so many of us have seen for years: Lee is an outstanding teacher, a respected colleague, and someone who has made a lasting difference in the lives of generations of Silver High students. We are proud of him and grateful for all he has done for our school and community."
Each nominee for the National History Day Teacher of the Year Award 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.
"Teachers play a fundamental, and often undervalued, role in guiding the next generation of civic-minded leaders and change-makers," said National History Day Executive Director, Dr. Cathy Gorn. "We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of these 78 outstanding educators and their impact on students, their local communities, and history education."
This year teachers from across New Mexico could self-nominate or be nominated by community members for the award. NHD staff worked with local programs to select up to one middle school teacher and one high school teacher to represent each affiliate for this prestigious award. In addition to celebrating outstanding history scholarship and innovative classroom instruction, the 2026 Teachers of the Year will receive a $5,000 cash prize. One national winner in the junior division and one in the senior division will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians and announced on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the National History Day National Contest Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland. The Awards Ceremony will begin around 9 a.m. and will be livestreamed at www.nhd.org/awards-ceremony.
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. Established in 1974, NHD currently engages more than half a million students each year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest and supports teachers through professional development opportunities. 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 annual National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the Joyful Noise Charitable Foundation, The Better Angels Society, Bezos Family Foundation, Library of Congress, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Behring Global Educational Foundation, and the National Park Service. For more information, visit www.nhd.org.
