Professional Development for In-Service Teachers
Summer Civics Seminar
Sponsored by a U.S. Department of Education grant, the Summer Civics Seminar accepts applications from in-service teachers from public and private schools in Alabama. The goal is to host one in-service teacher from each of Alabama’s 138 public school districts and 37 in-service teachers from private schools across the state each summer for a week-long professional development program.
The week-long program provides participants with an honorarium, lodging, meals, access to national civic education organizations, expert faculty in the American political thought, keynote speakers, and experiential learning.
While applications for the 2026 Summer Civics Seminar are now closed, several sessions will be streamed live as free webinars. These are open to the public. In-service teachers can attend and earn professional development credit through PowerSchool. To receive access and credit (if applicable), participants must register for each session in both Zoom and PowerSchool.
Please see the schedule and registration information below. Additional details about each session and speaker can be found through the registration links.
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Event Title |
Date and Time |
Zoom Registration Link |
Powerschool Section #: |
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Reflections from an Alabama Insider |
Sunday, June 14, 6:15-7:45 p.m. |
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The Declaration of Independence: Its Principles and Legacy |
Monday, June 15, 9:00-10:00 a.m. |
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Cracking the Code of the Declaration with iCivics: An Inquiry Approach for Elementary Classrooms |
Monday, June 15, 1:15-3:15 p.m. |
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The Declaration and its Continuing Legacy |
Monday, June 15, 6:15-7:45 p.m. |
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The Constitution: Institutions, Powers, and Ideas |
Tuesday, June 16, 9:00-10:00 a.m. |
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The NCC’s Educational Framework |
Tuesday, June 16, 1:15-3:15 p.m. |
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Morris' Insights into the Constitution's Continuing Legacy |
Tuesday, June 16, 6:15-7:45 p.m. |
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Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Voting and Freedoms |
Thursday, June 18, 9:00-10:00 a.m. |
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Historical Thinking and Tactile Learning: An Analysis of Abraham Lincoln |
Thursday, June 18, 1:15-3:15 p.m. |
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In Pursuit of Freedom: Wisdom from the African American Tradition |
Thursday, June 18, 6:15-7:45 p.m. |
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What is an American Citizen? Duties and Rights |
Friday, June 19, 9:00-10:00 a.m. |
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Strategies for Teaching with Primary Sources in Elementary Grades |
Friday, June 19, 1:15-3:15 p.m. |
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Reflective Patriotism: America 250 and Beyond |
Friday, June 19, 6:15-7:45 p.m. |
Tocqueville Lecture Series - Youtube Channel
In partnership with the Regional In-Service Center, teachers may attend these civic discourse events and earn professional learning credit for free.
Summer Civics Symposium
A three-day professional development program for middle and high school teachers that engages with primary courses, which align with the new social studies standards released by the state of Alabama. This program also contains pedagogy sessions by national leaders in civics education.
Participants receive an honorarium, travel reimbursement, meals, a reader, and professional learning credit for completing this program, which is due to generous support from the Jack Miller Center.
The 2026 Summer Civics Symposium is taking place on July 14th through July 16th on the campus of Jacksonville State University.
Submit your application for this program. They are due by Friday, May 22 and the program is limited to 25 participants.