Hawaii Teacher Misha Matsumoto Yee Named 2022 National History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History announced today that Misha Matsumoto Yee, a history teacher at St. Andrew’s Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been named the 2022 National History Teacher of the Year.

Matsumoto Yee rose to the top of a competitive pool—parents, students, teachers, and administrators nationwide nominated 6,008 teachers for the History Teacher of the Year Award in 2022.

She will be honored on Tuesday, October 18 at a ceremony in New York City, which will also be livestreamed beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, will present the National History Teacher of the Year award and a prize of $10,000. The presentation will include a video, created by HISTORY®, showcasing Misha Matsumoto Yee. In addition, past winners will speak about the impact of this prestigious award.

Matsumoto Yee is currently the Upper School Social Science Department Chair at St. Andrew’s Schools – The Priory, an all-girls K–12 program with a college preparatory school. She teaches AP US History, AP Government and Politics, US History, US Government, World Cultures and Religions, and electives including Independent Inquiry (a research writing course) and a Model United Nations class. She helped to create the Global Leadership criteria at St. Andrew’s Schools.

The Priory Upper School principal, Nichole Field, says, “Misha is a dedicated, talented, creative and seasoned social studies teacher of middle and high school United States history and government. She has a gift for gently pulling the very best from her students. This stems from her high standards, genuine kindness and compassion for the experience of learners, belief in the capability of young learners, and her capacity to personalize learning experiences for each student. She is one of the finest teachers I have observed in my career.”

“It was a surprise and an honor to have been named the National History Teacher of the Year,” says Matsumoto Yee. “The Priory students, with their enthusiasm and curiosity, motivate me every day. I share this honor with them and with my colleagues, all of whom have a love of teaching that translates to a profoundly rich learning experience for our students, preparing them to engage with purpose as young leaders.”

She continues: “I enjoy witnessing students see themselves represented in their nation’s history. Through learning about groups and communities they identify with, they become passionate learners and understand the importance of learning history.”

Gilder Lehrman Institute President James Basker states, “We are proud to be honoring Misha Matsumoto Yee not only for her dedicated and impactful work with her students in Hawaii, but for modeling the highest standards of service and leadership in her profession. She is proof that teachers are indeed the lifeblood of the system, and we are all forever indebted to them.”

Engaging and inspiring students in American history education has never been more critical. As the 2022 National History Teacher of the Year, Misha Matsumoto Yee will serve as an important ambassador for the teaching community and a spokesperson and a thought leader on the importance of high-quality American history education for all, particularly students from underserved communities.

Read more about Misha Matsumoto Yee’s work an an educator here.