LSUS to host three American history summer institutes
06/01/06

LSUS will host three American history summer institutes for about 70 Caddo and Bossier public school teachers as part of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching American History program obtained through the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

In an orientation for the first series of U.S. history summer institutes in the three-year project Thursday afternoon, LEH Executive Director and President Dr. Michael Sartisky welcoming teachers and administrators in a packed LSUS lecture hall. Joining Sartisky for the orientation were Caddo Parish Superintendent of Schools Ollie Tyler and Dr. Larry Anderson, dean of the LSUS College of Liberal Arts.

Also on hand to meet and greet the elementary, middle and high school history teachers were the three professors who will conduct the institutes: Dr. Blake Dunnavent, an LSUS associate professor of history; Dr. Gary Joiner, an LSUS assistant professor of history, and Dr. V. Elaine Thompson, a Louisiana Tech assistant professor of history.

The public school teachers will be enrolled in History 790, will receive three hours of graduate credit and a $1,000 stipend. LSUS has waived tuition and most fees, with some mandatory fees being paid through the grant. The grant will also pay the professors’ salaries. Sartisky said the LEH expects to have similar institutes the next two summers.

Anderson said the institutes will run for four weeks beginning Monday.