League Names Teachers to Attend Harvard Civics Project

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) announces ten teachers have been selected from Bergen County, New Jersey to participate in the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's Civics Project, a collaboration with the Harvard Case Method Institute for Education and Democracy, that recruits teachers nationwide to attend. The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley nominated these teachers to participate in the prestigious civics education program:

• Bergenfield High School – George Alvarez
• Bergen County Academies, Hackensack – Katie Janseen
• Cliffside Park High School – Leigh Turro
• Fort Lee High School – Seara Moon
• Leonia High School – Lucille Finnegan and Dominick Palmeri
• Palisades Park High School – Nicole Turro
• Pascack Valley Regional High School, Montvale - Marisa Mathias, Jeff Jasper, Ryan Walter

“These teachers from Bergen County will attend the Harvard Civics Project and apply the case method technique with their students and community members to deepen their understanding of American democracy by studying topics ranging from the Constitutional Convention to Civil Rights. They will help to buck the decline in civics education and civic engagement in our schools and communities," said Joyce Luhrs, Vice President of Marketing, League of Women Voters of Northern Valley.

Case Method Technique Strengthens Civics Education

Based on the highly successful experience of Harvard Business School and other graduate and professional programs using case-based teaching, the case method can be employed to strengthen high school education. This also ensures a more exciting, relevant and effective experience for students and teachers across a range of subjects. The LWVNV's 2020 nominee, Kelly Epstein, a Park Ridge High School history and psychology teacher, participated in the program and presented recently to the League her experience attending the workshop and the impact on her students.

National Civics Program

Leagues across the country nominated outstanding active high school teachers from public, private, or charter schools in grades 9-12 teaching U.S. history, government, or civics to participate in the free online professional development case method workshop. The teachers agree to teach one case in their classes during the academic year and moderate one community case discussion with their League by the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Teachers receive a range of resources. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harvard Business School Professor David Moss will present to the teachers a one-day live, virtual workshop, History of American Democracy, with the Harvard Case Method, the core pedagogy used at Harvard Business School for decades. Teachers are provided a full curriculum of Harvard cases free of charge. Upon completion of the course and related training and implementation, they are awarded a certificate from the Institute detailing 32 hours of professional development.

For further information about the LWVNV, membership or to get involved in voters service activities, contact (201) 947-0756 or by e-mail. Learn more about the League on the organization’s website and its blog .