Tangents Summer 2021

Oatsvall named state’s top history teacher Dr. Neil Oatsvall, a history instructor at ASMSA, was named the 2020 Arkansas History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.

Inaugurated in 2004, the award highlights the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school. The award honors one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. Territories.

Oatsvall attributed the honor to his students’ classroom efforts and the inspiration from his fellow educators. As an alumnus of the University of North Carolina, Oatsvall referenced Basketball Hall of Fame and longtime Tar Heels coach Dean Smith’s approach to accepting recognition for achievements.

“When Dean Smith won his first national championship in 1982, he declared that winning the big game did not make him any better of a coach than he had been before it,” Oatsvall said. “In the spirit of Coach Smith, I am honored to accept this award in the name of my students and ASMSA. No teacher could have ever asked for a better set of students or place to be with them in the classroom. Any recognition I receive is truly a testament to the brilliance and hard work of my students and the standards of excellence set every day by my talented colleagues.”

Oatsvall completed his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina in Asian Studies (Japanese language) and history.

He received his master’s degree from North Carolina State University, and his doctorate from the University of Kansas, both in history. Oatsvall currently serves as 6