Professional Development Events
We The People Summer Institute
2024 Indiana We the People Summer Institute – Register Here
June 23-27. 2024 – Indiana University Bloomington – O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs
Each summer the Indiana Bar Foundation holds a multi-day professional development workshop for educators wanting to learn more about the We the People program.
Indiana high, middle, and elementary school teachers can join the Bar Foundation to learn in-depth content and teaching strategies for important concepts you’ll be teaching in your government, history, or social studies classes. These topics will also aid We the People teachers in presenting the curriculum and preparing for the simulated congressional hearing authentic assessments, which will be focused on during the institute.
Attendees will receive: Lodging and meals, classroom set of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution textbooks, teacher library worth $75, and 26 hours of professional growth points.
Civics that Empowers All Students (CEAS) Project Application
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
The benefits of this project include:
- Free professional development! Join the Indiana Bar Foundation as we head to Philadelphia for an engaging week of professional development. Following the institute, teachers will virtually participate in professional development sessions throughout the school year.
- The Indiana Bar Foundation is currently planning the CEAS Summer Institute for 2024 as a joint venture between Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. You will be a part of an incredible professional learning community!
- Engaging pedagogy and academic content, centered on the highly effective We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum
- A network of support and resources for engaging diverse student populations in the history, principles, and current application of the U.S. Constitution
- Scholar guest speakers
- Access to a library of professional development videos with noted scholars and practitioners cued to the curriculum
- Free set of We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution textbooks and teacher’s guide
- A stipend for completing program requirements
What is CEAS?
The CEAS project is funded by a Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant from the USDOE.
Click here to download a one-pager about the CEAS project for your information, or to share with your admin team or other interested teachers.
Click here to begin your application!
Program Requirements
Eligibility:
This program is for teachers in grades 4-8 who work with 30% or more underserved students. The Federal definition of high-need students includes qualifiers such as, but not limited to: students in poverty counted in the most recent census data; students eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch; students in families receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; students eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program.
What am I signing up for?
Selection as a CEAS teacher requires the following commitments:
- Participate in 52 hours of professional development
- 36-hour summer institute in Philadelphia – 16 hours of in-service professional development
- A total of 40 hours of classroom instruction using the We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution curriculum
- Involve students in the simulated congressional hearing instructional activity
- Participate in a teacher pre- and post-test
- Administer student pre- and post-tests
This project will begin in the summer of 2024 and continue through the 2024-2025 school year. Resources and assistance will be provided throughout the duration of the project, but continued participation is required.
Please contact Civic Education Specialist Joseph O’Connor with questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your interest in the CEAS Project, and we look forward to working with you!
Spring Professional Development Workshop
EVENT UPDATE: Due to space availability, registrations for this event will be waitlisted as of March 16, 2024.
Friday April 26, 2024 —- 10 am – 3:30 pm (ET)
Title: Beyond Textbooks: Teaching History and Civics with Primary Sources
Presenters: Dr. Michael Promisel, Busch Family Visiting Fellow, University of Notre Dame; Assistant Professor of Politics, Catholic University of America
Jacob Schueller, Midwest Teacher Education Fellow, Jack Miller Center
Tim Kalgreen M.Ed., Director of Civic Education, Indiana Bar Foundation
Description:
Join the Indiana Bar Foundation, the Remnant Trust, and the Jack Miller Center for a full day professional development workshop on Friday, April 26. Beginning with a scholar session, attendees will take a constitutional deep dive, led by Dr. Promisel, into the balancing act between majority rule and minority rights.
Following the scholar session, the Jack Miller Center and Indiana Bar Foundation will provide curriculum application breakdowns in sessions designed to bring this scholar presentation and content into your classroom effectively.
In partnership with the Remnant Trust, a selection of founding documents will be available for attendees to interact with throughout the workshop; You will follow concepts through history via firsthand examination of the documents you have seen referenced countless times.
Where: Indiana Bar Association offices:
201 N. Illinois St., Suite 1225
Indianapolis, IN 46204
View the ISBA’s webpage for parking options and further direction
The Indiana Bar Foundation will offer a $100 travel stipend to Hoosier educators interested in attending to cover travel and parking expenses. Additionally, reimbursement for sub pay may be available.
Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Spring Professional Development Workshop.