Institute for Governance and Civics
Teacher Symposium
Understanding America’s Founding Principles
June 9-11, 2025 | Florida State University
Event begins with a reception at 6:30 PM on the 9th and concludes at 12:15 PM on the 11th.
Apply NowAbout the Symposium
The three-day symposium, "Understanding and Educating America’s Founding Principles," provides high school teachers with a professional development experience designed to deepen their knowledge of America’s founding ideas and enhance their teaching practices. This program treats educators as professionals, offering guided discussions led by renowned scholars over selected readings on pivotal topics such as constitutional compromise, the First Amendment, abolition and civil rights, and civic virtue. The focus on dialogue and critical engagement ensures that participants gain both a richer understanding of foundational principles and the tools to bring them to life in their classrooms.
The symposium features interactive sessions led by experts in their field, fostering collaborative exploration. By engaging in thoughtful discussions and analyzing key texts, teachers will leave with a stronger grasp of America’s founding principles and practical strategies for empowering their students to connect with these ideas. This symposium honors the vital role educators play in shaping informed, civic-minded citizens while equipping them to excel in their classrooms.
Benefits for Teachers
- High-quality professional development from leading scholars
- $250 stipend for participating in the entire symposium
- Hotel accommodations for teachers traveling from out of town
- Meals provided during the symposium
Featured Sessions
Session 1: Compromise and the Constitution
Instructor: Jeremy Bailey
Required Readings: Federalist No. 37 and Federalist No. 54
Session 2: The 1st Amendment: Philosophical Principles
Instructor: Luke Sheahan
Required Readings: Cato No. 15, Federal Farmer No. 16, and Madison's Report of 1800 (excerpted)
Session 3: Abolition & Civil Rights: Rooted in the Constitution
Instructor: Rachel Ferguson
Required Readings: What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, Frederick Douglass, and To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth - Poem
Session 4: Why We Need a Virtuous Citizenry
Instructor: Rachel Ferguson
Required Readings: George Washington’s Farewell Address, John Adam's A Dissertation on the Cannon and Feudal Law, and Letter to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798
Session 5: Teacher Application
Instructor: James V. Shuls, Ph.D., Head of K-12 Education Reform at IGC
Keynote Address: Cultivating Agency and Virtue
Instructor: Ian Rowe
Required Readings: My students recite the Constitution’s Preamble daily to help preserve its promise
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the symposium, please contact:
James V. Shuls, Ph.D.
Email: jshuls@fsu.edu