Grantee: Weber School District, Ogden, UT
Project Name: UTAH (United Teachers of American History) Alliance
Project Director: Jeff Stephens (801) 476-7875
Funding: $995,860
Number of Teachers Served: 260
Number of School Districts Served: 1
Number of Students Served: 25,000

UTAH Alliance brings together the school district with Weber State University's Department of History and Social Science Education Center to increase teacher and student knowledge of American history and update pedagogical methods to reflect best practices. All district history teachers will participate in a series of workshops and site visits, receive educational materials and support services including mentoring, and undertake research projects. Intended to nurture active and informed citizens, the project prepares teachers to address new core history requirements through summer institutes, school-year quarterly workshops, symposia, exposure to master teachers, and achievement of certification credits tied to pay-scale points. Content of past Alliance courses has included: Utah and the West, Cold War, the American Presidency, Great Powers of the 20^th century, the Asian component, the U.S. at war, ethnic revival and conflict resolution, trans-Mississippi west, women in history, post-Cold War challenges, and other topics.

Grantee: Granite School District, Salt Lake City, UT
Project Name: UTAH (Utah Teachers Academy for History) Institute
Project Director: Mary Alice Rudelich (801) 268-8543
Funding: $949,984
Number of Teachers Served: 138
Number of School Districts Served: 1
Number of Students Served: 4.080

The district is partnering with Utah Academy of Teachers, the University of Utah, and Westminster College to increase 4^th-8^th grade teachers' knowledge of American history, diversify pedagogical methods, enhance student appreciation for U.S. history, and develop alternative assessment measures. In year 1, 32 experienced teachers attend an intensive 7-week institute followed by quarterly workshops and classroom observations. In years 2-3, each will mentor 3-4 peer teachers on lesson plans, research practices and instructional strategies. Based on a model exemplified by the Utah Academy of Teachers, the project will establish the UTAH Institute as a center for comprehensive, ongoing American history teaching resources. In addition to support for a new 12^th grade history core on "U.S. Citizenship and Government," training will focus on historical themes such as constitutional politics, civil rights, war and society, race and slavery, and Utah history. Teacher workshops will also stress classroom applications of historical research, technology use, and projects emphasizing writing skills.