ISSUED: 9 May 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The deadline has been extended to June 1 for the Benedum Foundation-supported social studies teacher institute at Shepherd University. “People Powered: Civic Action, Community Engagement, and American Representative Democracy” is hosted by the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Participation is open to middle and high school social studies and civics teachers, advance placement history and civics teachers, and graduate and undergraduate teacher education students in their final year of study. Teachers will attend one of two workshops, on either June 28 or June 30, and will develop a lesson or class project using the principles covered in the institute.
Participating teachers will receive a $1,000 professional development stipend. They could also win a prize for their school by developing a social studies project evolving from People Powered and making a virtual presentation about their project on April 20, 2024. First prize will be $5,000, and four runner-up schools will receive a $2500 prize each.
The goal of the People Powered social studies education institute is to transform social studies instruction to include more experiential and hands-on learning by expanding the civic lens by focusing on “the powerful ways that collective grassroots organizing and engagement with the legislative process have historically shaped and continue to shape our nation.”
For details and to register for the workshop, visit the Robert Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education People Powered website. For questions, contact the Dr. Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt, People Powered project manager.
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