Reflections from the 2025 Innovators in Civic Education Workshop

by Education Manager Lauren Lockhart

Entering through the gates of the American Village on July 10th, 2025, community and classroom-based educators throughout the state prepared for a day filled with immersive and historical experiences that can be utilized in their classroom as part of the David Mathews Center’s Innovators in Civic Education Fellowship.

For the 2025-2026 cohort, the DMC received a record number of applications with educators from Huntsville all the way to Mobile. Of the twenty-five accepted, student age groups were represented across the board, in addition to multiple subjects - such as English, Library Studies, Social Studies, History, and more. A small number of the teachers had Special Education and/or English as a second language (ESL) backgrounds, highlighting a perspective on civic education that has been missed in previous years. 

A visit to the American Village would be incomplete without a tour, which kicked off the day for our teacher fellows. Not only were they enveloped in America’s revolutionary history from Chief Education Officer Val Crofts and his education team, but they heard firsthand from John Adams and Thomas Payne about the tensions citizens were experiencing during our fight for independence. During their historical excursion, educators also got a sneak peek into the expansion of Independence Hall, which will include more activities and resources for high school aged students. As one educator put it, “Visiting the different parts of the American Village and seeing all that it has to offer my students was most helpful. I teach this content and it will support students' learning and is just awesome to see.”

To pair with the tour, Natalie Steed, Development Officer at the American Village & Executive Officer for the Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission, shared how schools can become partners for America’s 250th birthday through different programs and resources that are free to educators. Participants also heard from Kristin Boggs, ​​Director at the Alabama Public Service Training Initiative, and Cody Carlton and Tracey Carter, Education Specialists at Alabama Public Television, further illuminating the free and accessible resources that are available to educators across the state.

Teacher Fellows finished the day with a deliberative dialogue training that integrated instruction and practice for a more participatory experience. Using the 1776: What Should We Do? issue guide from the National Issues Forums Institute, the entire group engaged in deliberative dialogue while Executive Director Scotty Kirkland depicted different techniques of a moderator, skills that can be used later in the classroom. For the remainder of the approaches, educators were broken up into small groups, both at random and by grade level, to practice methods of moderation, deliberation, and other vital roles in a forum. 

One teacher fellow mentioned, “I enjoyed the deliberative forum a lot. This method helps with critical thinking and retention. I plan on using this with various standards that allow for students to take on different perspectives. I plan on assigning groups, roles, creating rubrics, and utilizing resources like the one we used today to help students with dialogue.”

Each educator left with a packet of resources, as well as a list of issue guide class sets they can request for the classroom. Throughout the year, the DMC will continue to stay in contact with fellows and offer support, services, and resources in whichever way we can to assist them and their students. 

The Mathews Center is incredibly thankful for our partnership with the American Village, UAB Alabama Public Service Training Initiative, and Alabama Public Television, as well as all of the educators who took the time in their summer to learn more with us. Civics education in the state would not be possible without each and every one of them. 

For more information about the Innovators in Civic Education Fellowship, please contact Education Manager Lauren Lockhart at llockhart@mathewscenter.org.