SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Two Wood County teachers are among 30 middle and high school teachers and education majors participating in the Shepherd University Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education summer workshop, “People Powered: Civic Action, Community Engagement and American Representative Democracy.”

From Wood County are Michelle Wells from Blennerhassett Middle School and Kyle Doak from Hamilton Middle School.

Participating teachers attended sessions either virtually or in-person that covered topics such as handling discourse across differences, experienced-based learning in the classroom and how to use resources at the Byrd Center in their lessons. Each teacher was awarded a $1,000 professional development stipend to use toward classroom materials and resources.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded the Byrd Center $136,250 grant for the initiative, which is designed to expand civics education in West Virginia.

“We hope the People Powered concepts of civic engagement will be translated into West Virginia’s classrooms,” Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt, project director, said. “The goal is to give students a sense of pride and encourage engagement in democratic processes that will become lifelong habits.”

The project is in two parts, participation in this summer workshop and a capstone presentation and competition in April when participating teachers will present what they’ve done during the school year to transform their history and civics classrooms.

The winner will receive a $5,000 prize and two runners up will win $2,500 to be used to enhance programs at their schools and provide resources and materials that foster excellence in teaching.