Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality.

Laura Bush Presents "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" Award to Wisconsin Teacher

Laura Bush congratulates Kathleen Kean, the national "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year." (White House photo by Joyce Naltchayan)

Oct. 19, 2004—Mrs. Laura Bush today presented Kathleen Cochrane Kean of Glendale, Wisconsin, the first national "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" Award during a ceremony held at the New-York Historical Society in New York City.

"This special honor is in recognition of Kathy Kean's creativity, enthusiasm and dedication to teaching children history," Mrs. Bush said.

"Through the efforts of great teachers, our young people will learn that history is not a time apart, but a vital part of who we are. We must share this lesson with our children and encourage them to be excited about their history so that they will in turn teach a new generation the story of America."

The "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" Award, a project of the Preserve America White House initiative, is facilitated by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" program was announced by Mrs. Bush on Jan. 15, 2004. Earlier this year, finalists were selected from each State and U.S. Territory. The national "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" was selected from the State and Territory finalists.

For the past 25 years, Mrs. Kean has taught advanced placement U.S. history as well as other history courses, including a course for at-risk students.

More than a decade ago, she helped create an interdisciplinary American studies program in which teachers work to build connections between American literature, history and the arts.

She introduced the study of American architecture into the program and helps plan an annual field trip for juniors to visit historic neighborhoods in Milwaukee.

For more information on the "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" program and the State winners, visit the Gilder Lehrman Web site.

Updated December 2, 2004

Return to Top

Mrs. Bush's speech

State History Teacher Winners, 2004 (in PDF)