Alexander, Corker, Davis Announce Major Educational Grant Awarded to Sequatchie Valley Schools April 8, 2008

Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker along with U.S. Representative Lincoln Davis today announced the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $997,625 Teaching American History Program grant to 30 schools in Bledsoe County, Marion County, Sequatchie County, Van Buren County, Grundy County, and Rhea County, Cleveland City Schools and Dayton City Schools.

"We are very proud of our magnificent diversity in this country," Alexander said. "But as much as we prize that diversity, what we prize even more is our ability to unite as one country. It doesn't matter where your grandparents came from. What does matter is that every student understands what it means to be an American. The best way to do that is to make sure that Tennesseans have the opportunity to learn American history and civics, and I'm glad that these counties will benefit from this important program."

"The Appalachian Corridor Teaching American History Program addresses an urgent need to improve and promote history education in the region by training teachers in methods that will enhance student performance," said Corker. "I thank the Department of Education for making a worthy investment in the future of Tennessee's children, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Tennessee delegation to expand educational opportunities for our citizens."

"Educating our children begins at home and is strengthened and expanded upon by our teachers. I support programs that develop the knowledge and skills necessary to teach American history in an engaging and significant way," said Congressman Davis. "Our rich history is ripe with many lessons and much of what I do as our Congressman is based on having an understanding of our past and how that informs current actions for the future. I applaud the Department of Education for investing in the future of rural Tennesseans."

The Teaching American History Program seeks to strengthen teacher knowledge of American history, improve instructional strategies by training them in content related teaching strategies, and encourage collaboration among teachers of American history.

The objectives stated above will be accomplished through varying activities. The program grant, funded under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, will provide a core group of thirty local teachers with thirty-three units of graduate level American history coursework and content related teaching strategy provided by historians and scholars from Tennessee Tech University and partners including Gilder Lehman Institute of American History.

Spanning three years of study the thirty educators will participate in three summer study trips from 2009 to 2011.During this time in-service training and American history conferences will be held during the school year and the summer for both the initial thirty and an additional thirty educators, who will be mentored by the core group of teachers.

The consortium of schools receiving this grant is headed by the Bledsoe County Office of Education.