The Organization of American Historians sponsors an annual award to recognize the contributions made by precollegiate or classroom teachers to improve history education. The award, to be given for activities which enhance the intellectual development of other history teachers and/or students, memorializes the career of Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau, University of Louisville, for her pathbreaking efforts to build bridges between university and precollegiate history teachers.

Applications must be received by December 1, 2006. The award will be presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the OAH in Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 29-April 1.

AWARD: The successful candidate will receive $1,000, a one-year OAH membership, and a one-year subscription to the OAH Magazine of History. If the winner is an OAH member, the award will include a one-year renewal of membership in the awardee's usual membership category. The winner's school will receive a plaque.

ELIGIBILITY: Precollegiate teachers engaged at least half time in history teaching, whether in history or social studies, are eligible.

CRITERIA: Successful candidates shall demonstrate exceptional ability in one or more of the following kinds of activities:

* Initiating or participating in projects which involve students in historical research, writing, or other means of representing their knowledge of history.

* Initiating or participating in school, district, regional, state, or national projects which enhance the professional development of history teachers.

* Initiating or participating in projects to build bridges between precollegiate and collegiate history or social studies teachers.

* Working with museums, historical preservation societies or other public history associations to enhance the place of public history in precollegiate schools.

* Developing innovative history criteria which foster a spirit of inquiry and emphasize critical skills.

* Publishing or otherwise publicly presenting scholarship that advances history education or historical knowledge.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION PACKET: Applicants should submit one copy of each item listed below, in the order given, to each of the three committee members:

1. A cover letter written by a colleague indicating why the teacher merits the award (no more than two pages).

2. Two letters written by former or present students (no more than two pages each).

3. Curriculum vitae (no more than three pages).

4. Samples of written work. These submissions should include article reprints, reports by classroom observers, course outlines, research proposals, and/or other evidence of excellence in some or all of the areas mentioned in the "Criteria" section (no more than fifteen pages).

5. A narrative describing the goals and effects of his/her work in the classroom and elsewhere for history education (no more than three pages).

6. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references, including the writer of the cover letter, at least one of whom must be a colleague or supervisor (one page).

One copy of each entry, clearly labeled "2007 Tachau Teacher of the Year Award Entry," must be mailed directly to each of the three committee members listed below and received by December 1, 2006:

Craig Carlson

37 Lansgate Court

Durham, NC 27713

Steven Mintz

Department of History

University of Houston

4800 Calhoun

Houston, TX 77204-3003

Debra Savage (Committee Chair)

6919 Cemetary Road

Manvel, TX 77578