Civic Education Professional Development Opportunities

The Indiana Bar Foundation is proud to offer a range of civic education and professional development opportunities for educators across Indiana at various stages of their careers. These programs are delivered in multiple formats—including in-person sessions, virtual learning, and events hosted at locations throughout the state—making it easy for educators to participate in ways that fit their schedules.

The opportunities below are designed to help educators engage with and bring to life two of the Foundation’s signature civic education programs: We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution and High School Mock Trial.

Explore the upcoming opportunities below and find the ones that best support your classroom and professional goals.

The Declaration & the Enduring Promise of 1776

FREE – Registration Required
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10 am – 3:15 pm
Location: Marian University

In partnership with the Jack Miller Center, this professional development workshop features a lecture from Dr. Johnston exploring how the equality principle in the Declaration of Independence is the core of the American creed. In this seminar, you will explore the philosophical roots of this principle, as well as its central role in the women’s suffrage movement, abolition, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Following the keynote, experienced mentor teachers will lead interactive sessions on translating these ideas into practical lesson plans and classroom strategies.

Participants will receive:

  • A $100 travel stipend
  • 5 Professional Growth Points (PGPs)
  • Lunch
RSVP Today

Introduction to We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution

FREE – Registration Required
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Location: Zoom

This introductory webinar provides educators with a clear overview of the We the People program, including its instructional framework, authentic assessment in the form of simulated congressional hearings, competition model, and classroom implementation strategies. Participants will leave with a strong understanding of how the program builds students’ civic knowledge, critical thinking, and constitutional understanding, as well as practical next steps for getting started.

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We the People Summer Institute

FREE – SAVE THE DATE
Date: July 13-16, 2026
Location: Indianapolis

This immersive summer institute equips teachers with the knowledge, lesson plans, and classroom strategies needed to successfully implement the We the People curriculum in the fall, featuring America 250-themed content, mentorship from veteran educators, and sessions led by college faculty experts in civics education.