State of Montana Newsroom
Nominations Open for Montana History Teacher of the Year
Helena, MT —The Montana Historical Society is now accepting nominations for the 37th Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award, which honors an outstanding schoolteacher for excellence in teaching Montana history. Nominations are due by April 13, 2026, and can be submitted at bit.ly/4lHR94l.
This year, the award will recognize a grade 7–12 teacher who has done an exemplary job teaching Montana history during the 2025–2026 school year. Nominators are asked to provide their own contact information along with the teacher's name, grade level, school, address, phone number, and email.
Nominated teachers will be invited to submit a brief application that includes one to two pages describing their approach to teaching Montana history — how they engage students, how their course recognizes cultural diversity, and anything else they would like to share about their class or methods. Nominees will also provide two one-page letters of support: one from a principal, superintendent, fellow teacher, or librarian, and one from a student. Instructions for submitting these materials will be provided to nominees directly. The deadline for completed submissions is May 10, 2026.
The winner will be honored at a ceremony in the Montana State Capitol on Friday, November 9, 2026, and will receive a plaque and a cash prize of more than $3,000 to be used for classroom materials, field trips, speakers, and other learning enhancements.
The Montana Statehood Centennial Bell Award was created by Montana television newscaster Norma Ashby and has recognized outstanding history teachers for more than three decades. The award alternates grade levels each year; in even-numbered years, it is presented to a grade 7–12 teacher, and in odd-numbered years to a grade 4–6 teacher.
The program is sponsored by the Montana Historical Society with financial support from the Montana Television Network, the Sons & Daughters of Montana Pioneers, the Virginia City Preservation Alliance, and the 1889 Coffee House in Helena.
For questions about the award or the nomination process, contact Martha Kohl at mkohl@mt.gov.