As Program Expands throughout Louisiana, Education Professionals Gather in Baton Rouge for Recognition of 2003 Grant Award Winners
Education professionals throughout Louisiana gathered May 9 in Baton Rouge to recognize teachers making a difference in the lives of Louisiana’s children.
Heritage Education—Louisiana, a program of NCPTT, presented its third annual mini grants awards for teachers with exceptional ideas for incorporating heritage education in their classrooms. The program was held in conjunction with National Preservation Week, May 5-11.
“Our partnerships with Louisiana’s teachers have produced more than 100 innovative heritage education lessons in 38 parishes across the state,” said Sheila Richmond, Heritage Education— Louisiana program manager. “The 2003 grants are among the most creative we’ve seen so far.”
In addition to the 2003 awardees, teachers who have been awarded grants over the past two years were in attendence. To date, more than $50,000 has been awarded for innovative heritage education projects. The teachers had their projects on display during a reception following the event.
In full operation for only two years now, the program is making significant inroads into Louisiana’s schools. Already, the program is in almost 60 percent of Louisiana parishes (the state’s equivalent of a county) and states such as Maryland are adopting the program’s model for their own initiatives.
Kathie Istre, a teacher in Lake Charles, used her 2002 grant to create an exhibit of Louisiana historical sites with photos taken by her students. The project taught students the basics of digital photography and helped them see their culture through a different lens as well.
“At the beginning of this project, I asked my students, ‘Can you make a difference? I heard a unanimous ‘no,’” Istre said. “The goal of this project was to bring awareness to the community and be a community contributor. Now they see that anyone, no matter the age can make a difference in the community.”
Heritage Education—Louisiana was established by the National Park Service in 2000 to help children develop an appreciation and responsibility for the buildings and landscapes in their own hometowns. As a division of NCPTT, the program helps to achieve the Center’s goal of promoting cultural stewardship through education. For a complete list of mini grant award winners, sample lesson plans and news about the program, visit the Heritage Education —Louisiana website: http://www.heritage-ed.org/.