Announcing the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year, Matthew Vriesman

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is pleased to announce that Matthew Vriesman, a high school history teacher in Kentwood, Michigan, has been named the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year. 

Vriesman rose to the top of a highly competitive field—more than 7,000 educators were nominated for the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year Award by parents, students, teachers, and administrators nationwide. He teaches AP United States History, AP African American Studies, and AP World History and is the Model United Nations director at East Kentwood High School, a public school in the Grand Rapids suburbs. 

On Tuesday, October 24, Matthew Vriesman will be honored at a ceremony in New York City. The presentation will be livestreamed at 5 p.m. ET and include a video created by HISTORY® highlighting Vriesman’s career and accomplishments. Register to attend the live stream here.

The ceremony will be hosted by Peabody and Emmy Award–winner Deborah Roberts, ABC News 20/20 Co-Host and Senior National Affairs Correspondent.

Now in its twentieth year, the National History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary through high school. The annual award honors one K–12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and US territories and names one of the state winners the National History Teacher of the Year. 

Nominations for the 2024 History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K−12 teachers for the award here.