Press Release
August 12, 2025
Contact: Carrie Fox
Oklahoma History Center Museum, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0791
[email protected]
okhistory.org/historycenter
OKC Teacher Named Oklahoma’s History Teacher of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY — Jennifer Huff, a history teacher at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City, has been named the 2025 Oklahoma History Teacher of the Year. This award is presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.
Huff holds a Master of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She teaches social studies and English at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City. She also serves her students as the yearbook advisor, student council sponsor and the co-director of the Explore Week program.
“Teaching history gives me the chance to bring the past to life for my students— allowing them to ponder an American experiment with our Founding Fathers, march alongside the suffragettes and fly with the Tuskegee Airmen,” Huff said in her application. “I love to watch as students begin to understand that history is written through many lenses, and that breaking down myths and exploring different perspectives is essential.”
Huff was nominated for the award by Matthew Carolan, head of school.
“But above all else—and true to the spirit of this award—Jennifer Huff is an extraordinary history teacher. After 15 years in the classroom, her students leave not only with a deeper understanding of American history, but also with sharpened reasoning, expanded empathy and a strengthened sense of citizenship,” Carolan wrote.
In addition to a $1,000 prize, Huff will receive an archive of classroom resources and recognition at a local ceremony. She is now one of 53 finalists for the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year Award. The national winner will be announced later this year.
Inaugurated in 2004, 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 U.S. territories. The winner of this year’s National History Teacher of the Year Award will be announced in the fall.
Nominations for the 2026 History Teacher of the Year Awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues and administrators may nominate K-12 teachers for the award by visiting gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy. The deadline for 2026 nominations is April 30, 2026.
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 non-profit 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) non-profit 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.
About the Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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