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News Release

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America today recognized Chesterfield County educator Nicole Winter as the 2016 Virginia History Teacher of the Year. Winter teaches at Cosby High School in Chesterfield County. VDOE history specialist Betsy Barton presented the award during a reception at the school where Winter has taught for 10 years.

Winter teaches Advanced Placement (AP) and collaborative levels of U.S. History as well as a Historical Research elective. She is a mentor for fellow AP U.S. History Teachers and has received  a number of awards including the 2015 Dr. Judy Flythe Teacher Leader Award of Greater Richmond, 2009 Virginia Region 1 Teacher of the Year award, and the 2009  DuPont Community Hero Award. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia.

“Nicole Winter’s gift of engaging each of her students at their individual levels, as well as her clear and  effective teaching methods, have earned her opportunities for leadership, mentorship and recognition,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said.

The Cosby High teacher was one of 78 nominees for the award and was selected for the honor by a committee of educators and historians from the Virginia Historical Society, Hampton University, Rappahannock Community College, George Mason University, James Madison University, Center for Teaching the Rule of Law, Radford University and Longwood University.

“Nicole is the consummate theorist, implementer and communicator. From bell to bell, students are engaged and challenged. There is no wasted time, everything is planned and executed with almost perfect efficiency,” said fellow Cosby High history teacher and Chesterfield County 2016 Teacher of the Year Christopher Averill.

Winter received a $1,000 award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America and is the commonwealth’s nominee for the National History Teacher of the Year Award to be announced later this year. In addition, Cosby High will receive an archive of primary historical materials in her honor from the Gilder Lehrman Institute.

Winter is the 12th educator to be honored as the commonwealth's top history teacher.

Founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization devoted to the improvement of history education. Information about the National History Teacher of the Year award can be found on the Gilder Lehrman Website.

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