A Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate and middle school teacher has been recognized for his outstanding work in the classroom.
Jason Krueger (’04) was named the 2023 State History Teacher of The Year, an award sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Krueger rose to the top in Nebraska after nearly 7,000 nationwide nominations from parents, students, teachers and administrators. Krueger teaches history at Park Middle School in Lincoln, Neb.
“Krueger is driven by a desire to instill in his students historical thinking skills like inquiry, research, multiple perspectives, and synthesis to create and tell the stories they have found,” the Nebraska Department of Education says. “Krueger requires each of his students to dive deeper into the nation’s past to find understanding and knowledge through accurate and reliable sources from differing perspectives.”
Krueger will receive a $1,000 award, and Park Middle School will become a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School, receiving history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Krueger is also a finalist for the $10,000 National History Teacher of the Year Award.
The 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 award honors one exceptional K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. territories.