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WALZ ANNOUNCES SCSC TO RECEIVE MAJOR GRANT TO EXPAND TEACHING OF AMERICAN HISTORY IN LOCAL SCHOOLS
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2009
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Tim Walz, who is a global geography teacher on leave from Mankato West High School while he serves in the Congress, announced that the South Central Service Cooperative will receive nearly $1 million in funding under the Teaching American History Grants Program.
“As someone who has a deep love and appreciation for history, geography and cultural studies because I taught all of those subjects in my classroom, I am thrilled for the students and teachers who will benefit from this grant,” said Walz. “This grant will work to improve both students and teachers knowledge of the geography, history and culture of the Minnesota River Valley and its unique role in American History.”
“I’m proud of the South Central Service Coop and the time and dedication of the professionals who wrote this winning grant application with the intention of bettering the lives and educations of our students in southern Minnesota,” concluded Walz.
“We were so pleased to receive notice from Congressman Walz about the grant award and excited to begin the work,” said SCSC Education and Innovation Director Wanda Sommers Wall . “Not only is the grant an exceptional professional development opportunity for teachers in our history rich region to improve their content knowledge through a year-long study, but even more important is the impact teachers will have on student achievement and historical literacy.”
The grant awarded totals $998,783 over a period of three years, from July 15, 2009 to July 14, 2012. The purpose of the Teaching American History Grants Program is to raise student achievement by improving teacher’s knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American History. By doing this, instruction will improve and raise student achievement.
Specifically, the South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC), a consortium of 64 member schools in south central Minnesota, proposes to implement Minnesota River Valley: Rich in American History (RAH) to increase content knowledge, instructional strategies, understanding and appreciation of traditional American history for 35 cohort members and up to 100 other teachers of grades 4-12 annually. SCSC will work in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota State University, Mankato, South Central College, Bethany Lutheran College and Gustavus Adolphus College to deliver quality professional development through seminars, institutes, Professional Learning Communities, travel immersion experiences and school-based support services.
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