Upcoming Institutes

Teaching U.S. History, 1980–2008 (2025 In-Person Institute)

From June 3–6, 2025, Humanities Texas will partner with Texas Tech University to hold a professional development institute for Texas teachers on U.S history from 1980 to 2008.

Dates and Location

The institute will take place at the International Cultural Center (ICC) at Texas Tech University from June 3–6, 2025.

Curriculum

Content will be aligned with the TEKS. Topics to be addressed include the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; the end of the Cold War; the Middle East; the AIDS epidemic and public health; immigration; economics from NAFTA to the Great Recession; 9/11 and the War on Terror; teaching foreign relations through film; civil rights; and advances in communication and technology.

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

Faculty

Justin Hart (Texas Tech University) will serve as the faculty director for the institute. Jeremi Suri (The University of Texas at Austin) will deliver the keynote lecture. Presenters include Michael Brandl (The University of Texas at Austin), Nathan J. Citino (Rice University), Jennifer L. Holland (The University of Oklahoma), Kyle Longley (Chapman University), Chase Untermeyer (former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar), and Emily Skidmore, Miguel A. Levario, and Sabrina C. Thomas of Texas Tech University.

Eligibility

The institute is open to secondary-level social studies 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.