WASHINGTON, D.C – A government high school teacher from Concord has been selected to spend a week in Washington, D.C. this summer to learn first hand about how Congress works, Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) announced today.

Miller’s office is one of only a handful in Congress that was chosen by the Historian’s Office in the House of Representatives to help host a total of only 19 teachers from different parts of the country this summer as part of the 2007 House Fellows Program.

Ms. Jennifer Collier, a constituent of Miller’s and a teacher at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, will be in Washington from July 30-August 3. The program, eligible to high school government teachers, aims to help teachers improve the knowledge and understanding of Congress through a one-week intensive session on the history and practice of the House of Representatives.

“I congratulate Ms. Collier on her selection and I look forward to seeing her in Washington D.C.,” said Miller. “The House Fellows program is a great opportunity to enhance the knowledge of those charged with educating our students about Congress and government.”

Ms. Collier was selected through a competitive process in which all public, private and parochial secondary school government instructors in Miller’s congressional district were eligible to apply. The Historian’s office made the final selection. During the school year following her participation in the House Fellows Program, Ms. Collier will have the responsibility to present her experiences and lesson-plans to at least one in-service institute for other teachers of history and government, expanding the reach of the program to those who do not come to D.C. themselves.

“She will have the opportunity to learn about Congress firsthand and pass on what she learns and inspire future students to become informed and active citizens,” said Miller.

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