20th Annual Democracy Project Institute for Teachers

Delaware K-12 teachersspanning public, charter, and private schoolshad the opportunity to learn about civics education under a concentrated lens during the Institute for Public Administration's (IPA) 2018 Democracy Project Institute for Teachers.

For its 20th year, the institute focused on the polarization of the American electorate and featured guest speakers representing Delaware on the local, state, and federal level.

Participating teachers heard from Delaware's state leaders and congressional delegation, including Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, former U.S. Senator Ted Kaufman, State Treasurer Ken Simpler, Representative Harvey Kenton, State Representative James Johnson, State Representative Bryon Short, and Governor John Carney.

Representatives from the Delaware Office of Management and Budget, the Delaware Supreme Court, the Delaware Democratic and Republican Parties, national think tanks, and polling research organizations provided an added depth of understanding to issues affecting the American electorate in 2018 with a particular focus on reducing local, state, and federal polarization. Teachers also met with members of the media, including staff from NPR, Delaware's News Journal, and The Washington Post.

In-depth teaching lessons and discussions, interactive teaching opportunities, and a visit with teachers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia helped to bring new perspectives to the classroom. The weeklong institute also provided participants an opportunity to visit both the state capital as well as Washington, D.C., with tours of both the Delaware Public Archives and the NPR Headquarters included on the agenda.

The Democracy Project Institute for Teachers 2018 Scholars

Staci Garber (Caravel Academy)

Kathleen Gormley (Highlands Elementary School)

Deshonta Hardy-Covert (Thomas McKean High School)

Sherri Logan (Georgetown Kindergarten Center)

Patricia Lynne Brown (Everett Meredith Middle School)

Christina Marsett (William Penn High School)

Ashley Miller (Conrad Schools of Science)

Casey Montigney (Shue-Medill Middle School)

Clarissa Oglesby (Sussex Central High School)

Melissa Tracy (Odyssey Charter School)

Colleen VanSant (Highlands Elementary School)

CUPSO Presentation Highlights Institute for Teachers

At the 2018 Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (CUPSO) Annual Conference, IPA Senior Fellow Ed Freel and Delaware Social Studies Education Project Director Fran O'Malleyboth instructors for The Democracy Projectpresented on the importance of preparing students to participate in our democratic society through high quality civics education, as well as the role The Democracy Project Institute for Teachers plays in doing so.

Freel and O'Malley also stressed the importance of public service organizations providing programming and services to both K-16 students and professional educators while using the Institute for Teachers as a Delaware-specific example.

About The Democracy Project Institute for Teachers

The Democracy Project Institute for Teachers brings together teachers (K-12) and leaders in government and education to discuss the importance of civic participation for the future of our democratic society and collaborate on ways to inspire active youth citizenship. 

The institute is designed to improve the teaching and learning of civics by enhancing participants' content knowledge, practices, and understanding of standardsboth civics and literacyand assessments.

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delawares Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development, and the education of tomorrows leaders.