Eligibility

"Emily Dickinson: Poetry, Person, and Place" is designed primarily for classroom teachers and librarians in public, private, parochial, and charter schools, as well as home schooling parents. Other K-12 school personnel, including administrators, substitute teachers, and classroom paraprofessionals, are eligible to participate, subject to available space.

Teachers at schools in the United States or its territorial possessions or Americans teaching in foreign schools where at least 50 percent of the students are American nationals are eligible for this program. Applicants must be United States citizens, residents of U.S. jurisdictions, or foreign nationals who have been residing in the United States or its territories for at least the three years immediately preceding the application deadline. Foreign nationals teaching abroad at non-U.S. chartered institutions are not eligible to apply. Individuals may not apply to participate in a Workshop given by the same director on the same topic in which they have previously participated; in other words, they should not apply to attend the same Workshop twice. Individuals may not apply to study with a director of a Landmarks project who is a family member. Preference will be given to applicants who have never participated in an NEH Landmarks Workshop.

Applicants must complete the NEH application cover sheet and provide all of the information requested below to be considered eligible. An individual may apply to and participate in no more than two Landmarks projects.

Selection Criteria

A selection committee will read and evaluate all properly completed applications. Special consideration is given to the likelihood that an applicant will benefit professionally and personally from the Workshop experience. It is important, therefore, to address each of the following factors in the application essay:

  • your professional background;
  • your interest in the subject of the Workshop;
  • your special perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the Workshop; and
  • how the experience would enhance your teaching or school service.

How to Apply

The eligibility requirements and application instructions are explained at the NEH web site: http://www.neh.gov/projects/landmarks-school.html.

Be sure to use the online cover sheet as part of a complete application. The completed application must be mailed in hard copy to the Emily Dickinson Museum. A completed application consists of three copies of the following collated items:

1) application cover sheet. The application cover sheet must be filled out on-line at this address: http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants/. Please fill it out on-line as directed by the prompts. When you are finished, be sure to click on the “submit” button. Print out the cover sheet and add it to your application package. At that point you will be asked if you want to apply to another workshop. If you do, follow the prompts and select another workshop and then print out the cover sheet for that workshop.

2) a one-page double-spaced essay. This essay is perhaps the most important part of your application. The essay should include information about your professional background and interest in Emily Dickinson; your special perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the Workshop; and how the experience would enhance your teaching or school service.

3) a resume detailing your educational qualifications and professional experience.

4) a letter of recommendation from the principal or department head of your teaching institution or the head of a home schooling association. The letter should indicate the recommender's familiarity with your work and demonstrate support of your attendance at this Workshop. The letter should be enclosed in an envelope and signed across the seal by the recommender (keep in mind that they will need to do this three times.)

Your completed application, submitted in triplicate, should be postmarked no later than March 16, 2009, and should be addressed as follows:

Cindy Dickinson
Project Director for NEH Workshop
Emily Dickinson Museum
280 Main Street
Amherst, MA 01002

Do NOT send your application to the NEH office. It will not be processed.

Successful applicants will be notified of their selection by April 15, 2009, and will have until April 22, 2009 to accept or decline the offer. Applicants who will not be home during the notification period should provide an address and phone number where they can be reached. No information concerning the status of an application will be available prior to the official notification period.