Local high school educator named Idaho History Teacher of the Year

RIGBY — For Stefanie Fuchs, history is much more than names and dates in a textbook. It’s a story students can explore, question and experience for themselves.

That approach to the classroom has earned the longtime Rigby High School educator statewide recognition.

Fuchs has been named the 2026 Idaho History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, an honor recognizing exceptional K-12 educators who find creative and meaningful ways to teach American history.

Fuchs serves as the U.S. History Lead and America250 Co-Chair at Rigby High School and has spent 20 years helping students connect with the past. Her classes incorporate hands-on simulations, original historical documents and local history to encourage students to look beyond the textbook and think like historians.

“History isn’t just a list of dates to memorize — it’s a vibrant, ongoing conversation that comes alive when students roll up their sleeves and work directly with original sources,” Fuchs said in a news release. “My goal is to get kids asking big questions, digging into the evidence, and discovering how to think and analyze like true historians.”

Her impact at Rigby High School has extended beyond her own classroom. During her career, Fuchs helped make World History a graduation requirement, launched a Dual Credit World History course and has mentored student teachers preparing to enter the profession.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute has presented its History Teacher of the Year awards since 2004. One educator is selected from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools and U.S. territories. Teachers can be nominated by students, colleagues or school leaders before state committees of historians and educators select the winners.

“History teachers play an essential role in helping students understand the past, build critical thinking skills, and develop a deeper appreciation for the people and events that shaped our nation,” said James G. Basker, president and CEO of the Gilder Lehrman Institute. “We are proud to recognize educators who go above and beyond to make history engaging, meaningful, and relevant in their classrooms.”

As Idaho’s winner, Fuchs will receive a $1,000 honorarium along with a collection of American history books and educational materials. She will also be recognized during a local ceremony.

But the recognition may not be over.

Fuchs now joins 52 other honorees as a finalist for the 2026 National History Teacher of the Year Award. The national winner will be announced this fall during a ceremony at the Harvard Club of New York City and will receive a $10,000 prize.

For Fuchs, the statewide honor recognizes two decades spent helping generations of Rigby students discover that history isn’t simply something that happened long ago — it’s something worth questioning, exploring and understanding.

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