The Crazy Horse Memorial® Educator of the Year Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to Native American education within the previous year. The award includes a $1,000 grant to be awarded to an organization of the Educator of the Year’s choice, as long as the organization helps students. The award is announce annually at the Native Americans’ Day Celebration at Crazy Horse Memorial^®.

Past recipients include:

• 2024 – Bryant High Horse, Filmmaker, Educator, Rapid City, SD
• 2023 - Jonni Hertel, Educator, Rapid City, SD
• 2022 - Dr. Joseph Marshall III, Fulltime Writer, Former Educator and University Administrator, Mission, SD
• 2021 - Jace DeCory, Professor Emeritus of Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD
• 2020 - Jill D. Kessler, Certified School Counselor at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School, Eagle Butte, SD
• 2019 - Whitney A. Rencountre II, Director of Ateyapi Program, Educator, Rapid City, SD
• 2018 - Starr Chief Eagle, Hoop Dance Extraordinaire, Educator from Rapid City, SD
• 2017 - Vaughn Vargas, Rapid City Police Department, Rapid City, SD
• 2016 - Sergeant Todd Albertson, Freshman Impact Co-coordinator, South Dakota Highway Patrol - Northern Hills District
• 2015 - Charlie Luecke, Professor, Postsecondary Advisor, Internship Coordinator, The Indian University of North America® Summer Program at Crazy Horse Memorial®
• 2014 - Christopher Bordeaux, Executive Director, Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium
• 2013 - Thomas "Tom" Shortbull, President of Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD
• 2012 - Barry Mann, High School Principal, St. Francis Indian School, Rosebud Indian Reservation
• 2011 - Dr. Jason Murray, Assistant Professor of English, East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma. Murray served as the full-time Director of The Indian University of North America® from 2013-2015
• 2010 - Harriet Brings, Lakota Language-Traditions Teacher, North Middle School, Rapid City, SD
• 2009 - Marcel Bull Bear, History-Genealogy-Lakota Culture Instructor, Oglala Lakota College, Kyle, SD
• 2008 - Judy Whirlwind Horse, Fifth Grade Teacher, Cheyenne Eagle Butte Upper Elementary School
• 2007 - Earl Bullhead, Lakota Language-Cultural Arts Instructor, Lower Brule High School and Lower Brule Community College
• 2006 - Robert Cook, Social Studies Instructor, Jefferson Academy, Rapid City Area Schools
• 2005 - Marlyce Miner, Social Studies Instructor, Jefferson Academy, Rapid City Area Schools
• 2004 - Margery High Horse, Fourth-Grade Teacher, Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Porcupine, SD. Terrie Jo Gibbons received special recognition for her work as an Art Teacher for the Shannon County School District
• 2003 - Martin Red Bear Jr., Resource Specialist, Rapid City Central High School