James LeGrand, a teacher at Altus High School in Altus, Oklahoma, has been named the 2014 Oklahoma History Teacher of the Year.  The award is co-sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, HISTORY®, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on behalf of its Preserve America program, and the Oklahoma History Center. 

In 1994, LeGrand received his bachelor's degree in history at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  Before teaching social studies at Altus High School starting in 2004, LeGrand taught at Mountain View-Gotebo Public Schools, Burns Flat-Dill City Public Schools, and Erick Public Schools. LeGrand shares his passion for history with his students through highly creative, hands-on classroom activities and instruction. LeGrand has received several awards over his career, including selection as one of 10 educators nationwide to advise the Ford's Theatre on a digital project titled "Remembering Lincoln."

James LeGrand will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be in the running to be named the 2014 National History Teacher of the Year this fall. The Altus High School library will receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and HISTORY®.  LeGrand will also be invited to a 2014 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar and Altus High School will be named a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School.

"This award gives us the chance to recognize great history teachers across the country," said Lesley S. Herrmann, Executive Director of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. "It puts exceptional educators front and center."

Inaugurated in 2004, the National History Teacher of the Year Award promotes and celebrates the teaching of American history in classrooms across the United States.   The award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher of American history from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and US Territories. 

The 2014 award honors high school teachers.  The selection of the state winner is based upon several criteria, including: at least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history; a demonstrated commitment to teaching American history (including state and local history); evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; effective use of documents, artifacts, historic sites, oral histories, and other primary resources to engage students with American history.

From the state winners, one is recognized as the National History Teacher of the Year and will be honored in a fall ceremony. The winner, together with the nominator and two of the winner's students, will travel to the national recognition ceremony with expenses paid by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Nominations are open year round for grades K-12

Nominations can be made by a student, parent, colleague, supervisor, or other administrator familiar with the teacher's work. To be considered for the 2015 award, teachers must be nominated by February 1, 2015. For more information about the nomination process, visit www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy.