Upcoming Institutes

Teaching Twentieth-Century U.S. Literature (2025 In-Person Institute)

From June 24–27, 2025, Humanities Texas will partner with the University of Houston to hold a professional development institute for Texas teachers on teaching twentieth-century U.S. literature.

Dates and Location

The institute will take place at the University Houston from June 24–27, 2025.

Curriculum

Content will be aligned with the TEKS. Topics to be addressed include modernism; the Harlem Renaissance; mid-century confessional poetry; literature of the civil rights movement; and commonly taught texts such as The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Crucible, The Bluest Eye, and The House on Mango Street.

Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the institute will emphasize close interaction with scholars, the examination of texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Faculty

Greg Barnhisel (Duquesne University) will serve as the faculty director for the institute. Presenters include Amanda Golden (New York Institute of Technology), Jennifer Freeman Marshall (Purdue University), Jonna Perrillo (The University of Texas at El Paso), Mona Choucair and Ryan Sharp of Baylor University, and Patricia M. García and David Kornhaber of The University of Texas at Austin.

Eligibility

The institute is open to secondary-level English language arts teachers in Texas schools. Priority consideration will be given to early-career teachers in low-performing schools and districts.

Stipend, Travel Reimbursement, and CPE Credit

The institutes are free to teachers and their schools. Participants will receive a $400 stipend as well as CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. Stipends and CPE hours will be adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program.

Teachers traveling to the institute from out of town will be reimbursed for approved travel costs up to $300. Eligible expenses include use of a personal automobile, air travel, airport parking, and taxi fares. Meals and lodging are not reimbursable. Reimbursement rates are set by the State of Texas. Itemized receipts are required for all costs excluding gas. Please review the Humanities Texas travel policy for program participants for more information.

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the program. Please note that Humanities Texas’s maximum reimbursement for total travel expenses is $300, even if the participant’s actual expenses exceed $300.

Lodging

On-campus housing is available to out-of-town teachers at no cost and can be requested on the application.

How to Apply

Complete the online application. Please apply as soon as possible, as registration will occur on a rolling basis and space is limited.

Sponsors

The institute is made possible with major funding from the State of Texas, with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.