A Lexington teacher has been honored as the state’s best in his subject.

River Bluff High School’s Michael Burgess was named the 2023 S.C. History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a “nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public,” per the group’s website.

As one of the 50 state-level winners, Burgess gets a $1,000 prize and an archive of classroom resources, along with recognition at a ceremony in South Carolina, the date of which is still to be announced.

The national winner is chosen from the pool of state-level winners, with the institute’s top social studies teacher of the year receiving a $10,000 prize and a ceremony honoring them in New York City.

“Burgess's remarkable achievements in the field of American history education were acknowledged by a distinguished panel of teachers, administrators, and scholars from the state of South Carolina,” a release from River Bluff notes. “His innovative teaching methods, deep subject knowledge, and infectious enthusiasm have impacted countless students, inspiring a love for history and critical thinking.”

“His dedication, passion, and commitment to providing an enriching education in American history have profoundly impacted our students and school community,” the release adds. “We look forward to supporting him as he advances in the National History Teacher of the Year competition.”

Burgess is the lead teacher for the school’s Center for Law and Global Policy. He has worked as a public school teacher in the state for nearly 30 years.

According to the Center for Law and Global Policy’s website, it’s “a two-year program housed at River Bluff High School that is available to all junior and seniors of the five high schools in Lexington County School District 1. The program focuses on leadership development and policy creation in the areas of law, politics, and foreign affairs.”

He also directs his efforts outside the classroom and encourages his students to do the same with their engagement with history and government. He has moderated and helped pull together multiple forums ahead of local elections, incentivizing his students to come out and see democracy in action.

Now, he moves on to see if he’ll be named the nation’s top history teacher.

“A national panel of judges will review his submission, and the 10 finalists will be announced in September,” the release notes. “The ultimate winner of the national competition will be revealed in October, and we are hopeful that Mr. Burgess's commitment and talent will be recognized nationally.”