She teaches civics by having students honour veterans — now Rachel Morrison is America's civics teacher of the year

Rachel Morrison teaches 11th-grade US history at Goochland High School in Virginia through simulations, role-play and civil dialogue — democracy practised, not just described. She also founded the GHS Veterans Project, where her students interview local veterans, preserve their stories and honour them at school and community events. After a nationwide search, she has been named National Civics Teacher of the Year for 2026-27, receiving a $5,000 prize. In her classroom, the past is interviewed in person — and a generation learns citizenship by thanking the people who served it.

SDG 4 · Quality education — Mechanism: individual leader