Rossville Consolidated School District is proud to recognize Mr. Quentin Smith, Social Studies educator, for his participation in the We the People Summer Institute, held last week on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington. The annual event, hosted by the Indiana Bar Foundation, brings together a select group of Social Studies and Civics educators from across the state for an intensive professional development experience aimed at strengthening civic education.
The four-day Institute provided participants with high-quality training focused on effective instructional strategies, lesson planning, and implementation of the We the People (WTP) curriculum—an innovative civic education program grounded in constitutional principles and active citizenship.
Each day included content-rich sessions led by professors from the University of Evansville, Indiana University, and Johns Hopkins University. These sessions focused on key historical, governmental, and civic topics designed to help educators build student understanding and critical thinking skills. Mr. Smith, along with his fellow educators, had the opportunity to engage in authentic learning experiences, including a culminating simulated congressional hearing. During this final exercise, his team presented a four-minute testimony and participated in a six-minute Q&A session on the constitutional question, “How does being a citizen of the United States mean having both rights and responsibilities?”
Participants were supported throughout the Institute by experienced mentor teachers and received valuable resources, including:
32 Professional Growth Points (PGPs)
$75 toward classroom books
A free classroom set of We the People textbooks (30 student editions and 1 teacher edition)
“I found the We the People Summer Institute to be an incredibly valuable experience,” Mr. Smith shared. “The sessions not only deepened my understanding of civic education but also equipped me with practical tools to engage students in meaningful discussions about democracy, government, and citizenship. It was also a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and network with educators who share a passion for preparing students to be informed and active members of our society.”
Rossville Consolidated School District applauds Mr. Quentin Smith’s dedication to professional growth and his commitment to fostering civic understanding and responsibility among his students. We are confident that his participation in this Institute will have a lasting, positive impact in the classroom and beyond.