Four Middle School Teachers Named Civic Engagement Champions

Alexandria, VA — Four middle school teachers have been named Civic Engagement Champions (CEC) for their work in promoting civics education and active citizenship.

In partnership with the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship (FII), the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) created the CEC award to highlight the critical role that middle school teachers play in helping students become active, responsible citizens. Teachers from four states representing each of NASBE’s regions—Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Washington—were eligible to apply.

The four winners are Jane Leyderman, Dever Elementary School in Chicago, IL; Michael Neagle, Pyne Arts Magnet School in Lowell, MA; Michelle St. Pierre, Loch Raven Technical Academy in Baltimore County, MD; and Don Jenkins, North Whidbey Middle School in Oak Harbor, WA.

Jane Leyderman, the Illinois winner, teaches middle school social studies at Dever Elementary School, a K-8 school in Chicago. Her students used Chicago’s municipal elections as an opportunity to learn more about their city and being involved citizens. They studied Chicago communities and analyzed tough issues, including race, gentrification, and what makes neighborhoods succeed. On Election Day, they visited the polling place in their school and then returned to their classroom to cast ballots. They concluded their study with an action project focused on the question “What can we do to make Chicago/our community the best possible place for as many people as possible?”

Michael Neagle, the Massachusetts winner, teaches social studies at Pyne Arts Magnet School in Lowell. Each year, students choose a community issue for their class to address, using voting, civil discourse, and consensus building. Then they research the issue, interview experts, and develop policy and legislative goals to address the problem. They engage with elected officials and community leaders to turn their policy goals into action. Students have advocated for budget increases for suicide awareness and prevention training in schools and for legislation to prevent distracted driving while operating a cell phone, and they recently filed a bill with the Massachusetts House of Representatives that would restrict the sale of flavored vaping products across the state. His students have also produced a podcast series on landmark Supreme Court decisions.

Michelle St. Pierre, Maryland’s winner, teaches social studies at Loch Raven Technical Academy in Baltimore County. Her students were galvanized into action by the Parkland shooting and became advocates for policies that would reduce the impact of gun violence on their generation. A Soapbox Competition gave students a chance to issue a call to action to their classmates on issues from racial equality to sexual orientation. They determined that students could directly affect the issue of discrimination and exclusion of students based on sexual orientation. As a result of their work, all teachers in the school will receive additional training on the issue. St. Pierre notes that she now reviews her instruction and communications with an eye toward incorporating inclusive language.

Don Jenkins, the Washington winner, teaches history at North Whidbey Middle School in Oak Harbor. His students have researched local issues as part of their history and social studies classes. Recently, they used their history lessons on the Lewis and Clark expedition to take action protecting grizzly bears. Starting with their historical research, they then used scientific data, articles reflecting the views of ranchers and environmentalists, and interviews with experts. That research informed recommendations on whether grizzly bears should be removed from the threatened list in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem or added to the North Cascades Ecosystem. They shared their findings with policymakers.

“We are delighted to honor these four teachers as our inaugural Civic Engagement Champions,” said NASBE President and CEO Robert Hull. “Each one of these individuals takes very seriously their responsibility as teachers to develop students who are prepared to play an active role in our democracy. They are role models for us all.”

Leyderman, Neagle, St. Pierre, and Jenkins will be honored during an awards ceremony on Friday, October 18, 2019, at NASBE’s Annual Conference in Omaha, NE, and will receive a $5,000 cash award provided by the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship. They will also participate in a session on civics education during the conference.

Read more about the Civic Engagement Champions awards program and how to get involved here.

For 60 years, NASBE has served as the only membership organization for state boards of education. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NASBE elevates state board members’ voices in national and state policymaking, facilitates the exchange of informed ideas, and supports members in advancing equity and excellence in public education for students of all races, genders, and circumstances. Learn more at www.nasbe.org.

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