News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 8/11/04   Click on image for publication quality photo TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT – Southeastern Louisiana University President Randy Moffett and Tangipahoa Parish Superintendent of Schools Louis Joseph joined representatives of partner school systems and agencies on Aug. 11 to announce a $999,000 federal Teaching American History Grant. The grant is designed to provide teachers with high-quality American history content, improve student achievement in history, and help teachers meet certification standards in 14 southeast Louisiana school districts. Pictured, from left, are some of the grant partners and administrators: Moffett, Homer Dyess, Louisiana Public Broadcasting; Barry Dunlap, representing the Region II Education Service Center; Joseph; Southeastern Dean of Continuing Education Gerald Guidroz; LPB President and CEO Beth Courtney; William Robison, head of Southeastern’s history and political science department; and Project Director Ann Trappey. FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPROVE SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION IN 14 SCHOOL DISTRICTS       HAMMOND – The Tangipahoa Parish School System and partners such as Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana Public Broadcasting have been awarded a $999,000 U.S. Department of Education grant designed to raise student achievement in 14 southeast Louisiana school districts by improving teachers’ knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history.      The Teaching American History grant was announced by Tangipahoa Parish Schools Superintendent Louis Joseph at a luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 11 at Southeastern.       The three-year program, Louisianas Role in Traditional American History, will target more than 700 teachers at 300 schools in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Tangipahoa, and the cities of Bogalusa, Baker, and Zachary.       The program is designed to provide teachers with high-quality American history content, improve student achievement in history, and help teachers meet certification standards mandated by state accountability requirements and the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.        “The goal of this program is to demonstrate how school districts and institutions with expertise in American history can collaborate to ensure that teachers develop the knowledge and skills necessary to teach traditional American history in an exciting and engaging way,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “As one of the leading producers of teachers in Louisiana, Southeastern is always eager to partner with schools to improve instruction and student achievement.”      In addition to Southeastern, partners include LPB; the Region II Education Service Center; Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Louisiana State Archives; Louisiana State Museum; Louisiana State Libraries, and the Historic New Orleans Collection.       Among the grant partners attending the announcement luncheon were William Miller, a long-time Louisiana Department of Education administrator who will serve as the grant’s instructional coordinator; Beth Courtney, president and chief executive officer of LPB; Tangipahoa Parish School Board President Al Link and fellow board members; and superintendents C. Lester Klotz, Baker City Schools; S. Gregory Genco, Bogalusa City Schools; Warren Curtis, Livingston Parish, and Jerry Payne, St. Helena Parish.      William Robison, head of Southeastern’s history and political science department, will serve as the program’s academic coordinator. He said he and his fellow history professors will help teachers boost their content knowledge and gain crucial history certification by offering graduate coursework, follow-up workshops and summer institutes.      According to the grant application, 44 percent of the 295 teachers currently teaching social studies in the 14 districts are uncertified and, therefore do not meet the “highly qualified” definition mandated by federal No Child Left Behind legislation.      As project director, Ann Trappey, a veteran social studies teacher who has spent her last 13 years in the classroom at Kentwood High School, will be in charge of recruiting approximately 240 teachers for the project annually. She said teachers faced with the challenge of meeting state and federal certification requirements will find the program’s opportunities “a mighty blessing.”      “Our ultimate goal,” she added, “will be to improve students’ test scores.”      Teachers will receive stipends for tuition and summer institutes and will be able to access coursework through distance learning technology and the Internet.      Robison said “Louisiana: A History,” LPB’s six-part documentary exploring the state’s rich legacy and culture, will be a key companion to the program. The series premiered in 2003 in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. It includes a companion teacher guide and other resources, which are being made available schools.      “To see the series expand into the classrooms is such a gratifying thing,” Courtney said.      Robison said the resources of partners such as the state’s museum, archives, and library will provide teachers with ready access to the “raw materials of history.”