Sarah Wilder Named 2023 Kentucky History Teacher of the Year
Sarah Wilder, a teacher at W.R. McNeill Elementary in Bowling Green, has been named the 2023 Kentucky History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K–12 American history education.
Sarah Wilder received her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Louisville and is currently pursuing an Education Specialist Degree from the University of the Cumberlands. Sarah’s dedication to teaching history and civics is evident throughout her work as a 5th-grade teacher for over twenty years. She holds leadership positions at her school and in her region, mentors new teachers, and has participated in numerous professional development opportunities like the Google Teacher Institute. At school, she sponsors a “We the People” civics club that focuses on civics and community service and leads the Student Leadership Team in an annual Veterans Day event and Constitution Day program. Wilder says, “I want students to understand our rights as citizens and appreciate the wonderful freedoms we have in our nation. I strive to help them recognize that while our country is not a ‘perfect union,’ they have the power to make it a ‘more perfect union’ by being responsible, compassionate, and engaged citizens.”
As an educator, Wilder advocates for her students and says she feels “a massive responsibility to equip my students with the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully navigate their chosen pathway: college, a career, and a productive civic life.”
Wilder’s colleagues recognize her passion and achievement. Emily Lehman, Math Department chair at W.R. McNeill Elementary, says, “One step into Sarah’s classroom and you will sense the engagement, which is palpable as excited students come to her room each day knowing they are about to have an amazing experience… On multiple occasions, students have been inspired by her lessons and created their own service projects to better the world.”
In addition to a $1,000 honorarium, Wilder receives a core archive of American history books, Gilder Lehrman educational materials, recognition at a local ceremony in their honor, and recognition at the Kentucky Historical Society's annual History Awards. Wilder became one of 53 finalists for the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year Award.
Inaugurated in 2004 and now celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the History Teacher of the Year award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K–12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and US Territories.
About the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Organization of American Historians, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the National Daughters of the American Revolution.
Nominations for the 2024 History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, educators, and supervisors may nominate K–12 teachers by visiting gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.