Elgin Heinz

A pioneer in educating American students about Asia, Elgin Heinz served throughout his life as a consultant on the development of materials and methods for teaching about this region of the world. Born in China in 1913, Heinz attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with degrees in philosophy and public speaking and eventually earning a graduate degree in history from San Francisco State University. He spent forty years teaching in San Francisco's Public Schools, at first teaching literature, and later, geography and history. During his tenure as a teacher, Heinz became nationally known for his efforts in assisting students and teachers to learn more about Japan and Asia broadly.

In addition to classroom teaching, Heinz was active in a number of organizations, including the Association for Asian Studies, the Asia Society, the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations, and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. He served as the Japan Society's Education Director in 1960. Heinz has authored and edited numerous publications on teaching about Asia, including two widely used curriculum guides, Opening Doors and Stepping Stones.

Heinz has been the recipient of many awards including the National Council for Geographic Education's California Teacher of the Year and, in 1997, the World Affairs Council of Northern California's Castile Award. Perhaps the award that most epitomizes his groundbreaking work in K-12 Asian Studies was the Association for Asian Studies Committee on Teaching About Asia's 1987 recognition of Elgin Heinz for "Fifty Years of Innovative Teaching About Asia."*

(*Biographical information regarding Elgin Heinz and photograph were taken from the Fall 2000 issue of Education About Asia and were reprinted with permission from the Association for Asian Studies.)

Eligibility Requirements

The award is open to current full-time K-12 classroom teachers of any relevant subject in the United States who have been teaching for at least five years. There are two award categories, one in the humanities and one in Japanese language.

The candidate must demonstrate sustained commitment to improving mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese.

The candidate will have made a significant contribution to enhancing students' knowledge of Japan and the Japanese through any or all of the following:

1. Exemplary and innovative teaching on the subject of Japan (Japanese history, literature, language, art, social issues, etc.).

2. Developing meaningful projects linking American students with Japanese students (i.e., through use of the Internet, teleconferencing, letters, exchange programs).

3. Outstanding contributions to the improvement of curricula on Japan.

4. Leadership and outreach in the field of pre-college education about Japan (i.e., presentations at workshops and conferences, publications).

Nomination Procedures

Applicants for the Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award need not be nominated to apply. However, the Foundation is always seeking to encourage the nation's top educators to consider applying for the award. As such, we welcome nominations of individuals you feel qualified to apply for the Award.

Letters of Nomination should briefly highlight the qualifications of the candidate and must include their name, contact information, and indicate the school at which they currently teach.

The Foundation will accept Letters of Nomination at any time and will inform candidates that they have been nominated for the Award. Those nominated must submit a full application as indicated below.

Nominators should keep in mind the deadline for applications is in early February. As such, it is recommended that nominations be submitted by early December in order to provide potential candidates the time needed to compile their applications.

Letters of Nomination should be sent to:

Mr. David Janes, Program Officer and Assistant to the President
The United States-Japan Foundation
145 E. 32nd Street
New York, NY 10016

or via e-mail at djanes@us-jf.org

Application Procedures

Applicants must electronically submit (to djanes@us-jf.org) the following documents by February 1, 2008 to be considered:

1. Cover Sheet that includes the following information:

A) Full name and home address

B) School name and address

C) E-mail and telephone contact information

D) The award category for which you are applying: Japanese Language or Humanities

E) The subjects and grades you currently teach

F) A list of Japan-related programs in which you have participated

G) Names and contact information for those submitting letters of reference

2. A narrative (not to exceed three (3) pages typed, double spaced) describing your efforts to further mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese through your classroom teaching. Applicants should also highlight leadership positions held and detail how they have impacted other educators locally and/or nationally.

3. A two-page project proposal describing how you would use the award's $5,000 project funds to enhance understanding of Japan at your school or in your school district (project funds are typically awarded to the awardees' school and, as these funds are awarded as a grant, the Foundation reserves the right to amend this portion of the application). For example, such funds could be used to purchase curriculum material on Japan, for field trips to Japan-related organizations, to bring in guest speakers on Japan, for Japanese software, etc.

4. Three letters of support from individuals or organizations familiar with you and your teaching on Japan. A letter from a student explaining how your efforts affected his/her perceptions and understanding of Japan is permissible as a letter of support. One letter must come from the school's principal or vice principal and must express support for your project proposal in addition to supporting your candidacy for the award. (These letters do not need to be submitted electronically.)

5. A professional resume

The application, with the exception of letters of reference, should be submitted as one document in a standard format via e-mail to djanes@us-jf.org with the subject line: Elgin Heinz Application. Letters of reference can be sent electronically directly from the writer or may be sent to the Foundation’s office in New York.

Deadline for 2008

Complete applications must be received by the Foundation on or prior to February 1, 2008 to be considered for the 2008 award.

Review and Selection

A national selection committee will review complete applications received by or on February 1, 2008. The selection committee consists of leaders in the field of education about Japan. The award winners will be announced in May.

Selection Committee

Ms. Patience Berkman
Chair, History Department, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
2002 Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award Recipient

Ms. Leslie Okada Birkland
Japanese Language Consultant, American School in Japan
2005 Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award Recipient

Dr. Lucien Ellington
Editor, Education About Asia

Ms. Hazel Greenberg
Director, American Forum for Global Education

Ms. Margaret Lonzetta
Vice President, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia

Ms. Mari Maruyama
Director of Curricula and Training, The Laurasian Institution

Mr. Norman Masuda
Instructional Supervisor of World Languages, Palo Alto High School
2002 Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award Recipient

Mr. Gary Mukai
Director, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education

Mr. Michael Rubin
Former Director, NYC Public Schools Japanese Language Program

Dr. Vivien Stewart
Vice President, Education Division, Asia Society

Contact Information

The United States-Japan Foundation
145 E. 32nd Street
New York, NY 10016

Questions about the Award should be directed to David Janes, Program Officer at
(212) 481-8757 or via e-mail at djanes@us-jf.org.