Vanderbilt announces new initiative to strengthen teaching of high school history in 2025

The fully-funded experience for history teachers is named for former Senator Lamar Alexander.

Imagine being a high school history teacher and being given the opportunity to improve your teaching skills and classroom strategies through a one-week immersive experience featuring lectures by nationally known scholars of history and education, visits to historical sites, and investigating how to improve curriculum using cutting edge learning technologies like AI.

For up to 30 Alexander Fellows, that will be possible this coming June when Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development premieres a new professional development seminar for high school history teachers. The seminar will launch under the auspices of Vanderbilt's Alexander Initiative, named for Senator Lamar Alexander.

The Seminar for High School History Teachers will provide high school history and civics teachers from across the United States with a comprehensive, yearlong, fully funded professional development experience to revitalize history and civics education in U.S. schools. Participants will receive full funding covering all costs for travel, room and board, and a $2,500 stipend.

The goal of the program is to focus energy and resources on best practices to bolster educators' capacity to teach American history and civics effectively in an era of intense political polarization and declining faith in democratic institutions and values.

Alexander Initiative Executive Director Christopher Loss

"The study of history fosters shared understanding, strengthens civic bonds, and helps us see the past in front of us more clearly," said Christopher Loss, executive director of The Alexander Initiative and associate professor of public policy and higher education and associate professor of history.

"Investing in the professional development of history teachers is an investment in the future of our students, schools, communities, and nation," Loss said.

About the Alexander Initiative

The Alexander Initiative was established in recognition of the Honorable Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Vanderbilt class of '62 and University Trustee, retired U.S. senator, the 45^th governor of Tennessee, the 5^th U.S. Secretary of Education, and the former president of the University of Tennessee. The Initiative honors his lifetime of public service on behalf of improving education for all Americans.

Speaking about the new program, Senator Alexander said, "It is time to put the teaching of American history and civics back in its rightful place in our schools so our children can grow up learning what it means to be an American citizen."

Former Senator Lamar Alexander speaking at the Vanderbilt''s Sesquicentennial Celebration opening ceremony in March 2023. (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)

Faculty for the seminar will include noted historian and presidential biographer Jon Meacham as well as historians Caroline Janney, of the University of Virginia, and Jonathan Zimmerman, of the University of Pennsylvania. Vanderbilt scholars will include nationally recognized faculty drawn from Peabody College, the College of Arts and Science, and the Vanderbilt School of Law, as well as the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries.

The Alexander Initiative will feature a weeklong summer residential experience (June 15-22, 2025) at Vanderbilt Peabody College followed by an academic year of remote coaching and ongoing support and engagement thereafter.

Among the historical topics to be included are the American Revolution, the conquest of the Western states, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the New Deal, the Great Society, the Civil Rights movement, modern conservatism, the presidency, and U.S. foreign policy.

Participants will learn about working with primary documents in history classrooms, curriculum design, assessment, and using AI and VR in the classroom. Immersive learning will take place through site visits to the Tennessee State History Museum, Tennessee State Capitol, Vanderbilt Library Special Collections, and the National Museum of African American Music.

"Peabody College is known for expertise in designing engaging and meaningful learning experiences that have lasting impact," said Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education at Peabody College. "We are thankful to Senator Alexander for lending his name to this deeply important effort."

The Alexander Initiative will provide participants with

• in-depth history workshops led by leading experts in the field of U.S. history,
• access to cutting-edge teaching resources to develop curriculum materials and lesson plans,
• a deeper pedagogical repertoire to navigate difficult moments in teaching U.S. history and civics,
• opportunities to expand professional networks and communities of practice,
• a certificate and Continuing Education Units upon successful completion of the program,
• coverage of all expenses for travel, room and board, plus the $2,500 stipend.

Apply by January 15, 2025

High school history and civics teachers (grades 9-12) from public, charter, independent, and private schools are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants will be carefully selected and will have the honor of being called Alexander Fellows. For more information and to apply, please visit https://vu.edu/alexander or contact [email protected]. The priority application submission deadline is January 15, 2025. Up to 30 Alexander Fellows will be chosen. All applicants will be notified of admission decisions by March 1, 2025.

Why Peabody and Vanderbilt University?

Vanderbilt University is one of the nation's top private, research universities, with a reputation for excellence in U.S. history, while Peabody College is Vanderbilt's college of education and human development and a leader in teacher preparation and professional development. Vanderbilt's location in Nashville, Tenn., make the city and the region ideal resources for exploring U.S. history.

The Alexander Initiative also complements the Dialogue Vanderbilt program, which supports the advancement of free expression at Vanderbilt and beyond, and the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. Learn more at https://vu.edu/alexander.

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