ESU partners with American History scholars program

EMPORIA, Kansas |

Emporia State University will help Kansas history teachers deepen their knowledge through a federal grant awarded to the Chanute School District.

The "Teachers as Scholars in Kansas" program is funded by an U.S. Dept. of Educaiton "Teaching American History" grant totaling $806,020. The program was spearheaded three years ago by Senators Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Since then, over $150 million has been awarded to 170 programs nationwide to improve the quality of history teaching.

According to ESU associate professor of history Chris Lovett, 36 teachers will enroll in five graduate-level web courses structured around important eras in American history. Since the classes count toward the department’s master of arts in teaching, students can enroll in other courses to earn another degree. Tuition is provided by a three-year fellowship.

"We chose ESU because of its excellent reputation and because of the fact it offers a master’s of arts in teaching in the content area,” said grant director Mike Bruner, based at USD 413 in Chanute. ESU was awarded $60,000 to develop the online component of the program for teachers in grades 6, 8 and 11.

Over the course of the program, teachers will also meet for two intensive three-day workshops organized by the National Council of History Education.

"We did a study to find out the best professional development model," said NCHE director of professional development services Bill Ross. "We found that the best model is made up of an academic historian, a master teacher and a learning specialist."

To this end, the workshops will be led by Princeton University history professor Ted Rabb, Kirkwood, Mo. high school teacher Joan Musbach, and Northern Colorado University history education specialist Fritz Fischer.

Participants will also attend two ten-day summer institutes, one at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and the other at the Kansas Historical Society.

PARTICIPATING TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS

Beloit

Lori Flippin, North Beloit High School

Carbondale
Scott J. Shipman, Santa Fe Trail High School

Chanute
Debbie Bush, Chanute High School
Wayne Woodard, Chanute High School

Cherokee
Gary Lieker, Southeast High School

Concordia
Elisa Gerard, Concordia Junior Senior High School

Derby
Amanda Rohr, Derby High School
Kendal Warkentine, Derby High School

Dodge City
Pamela Ramos, Dodge City Middle School

Eureka
Sheila Koup, Eureka Junior Senior High School

Independence
Collette Reichenberger, Independence Middle School

Iola
Melinda Ayers, Iola High School

Fredonia
Diane Mollnow, Fredonia Middle School

Garden City
David Duran, Garden City High School
Brenda Howard, Kenneth Henderson Middle School, Garden City

Junction City
Curtis Gray, Junction City Middle School
Anneliece Kowalik, Junction City Middle School

Leavenworth
Sean Murphy, Leavenworth High School

Liberal
Wes Fox, Liberal High School

McPherson
Bruce Lolling, McPherson High School

Neodesha
Tamara Hatton, Neodesha High School

Ozawkie
Blanche Wulfkoetter, Jefferson West Middle School

Scranton
Patricia Lira, Scranton Attendance Center

Shawnee Mission
Brenda Stolle, Indian Woods Middle School

Syracuse
Bill Peeper, Syracuse High School

Topeka
Nathan McAlister, Highland Park High School

Tecumsah
Steve Gliddens, Sharnee Heights High School

Wamego
Marcia Fox, Wamego Middle School

Wellsville
Dana Barker, Wellsville Middle School

Wichita
Scott Harder, Goddard High School, Wichita
Richard Jones, Curtis Midddle School
Chris Kemp, Wichita High School
Kathy Saar, Southeast High School
Crystal Simmons, Goddard High School

Winfield
Sherry Barrier, Winfield High School
Justin Olmstead, Winfield High School

Last Updated July 2, 2007>