All nominated teachers must meet the following criteria:
- At least three years of classroom teaching experience
- Will teach for at least one year following the award year
- A demonstrated commitment to teaching American history
- Evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom
- Effective use of documents, artifacts, historic sites, oral histories, and other primary sources to engage students with American history
Consideration of these factors will be based on the grade level taught in order to accommodate the teaching requirements of both generalist and specialist teachers.