A Lehighton Area Middle School social studies teacher will represent Pennsylvania in a national program next month designed to increase underserved grades 4–8 students’ attainment of state civics standards, related literacy standards, and “social emotional learning” competencies while creating inclusive learning environments.

Erica Pagotto was selected by The Center for Civic Education to attend the “We the People: Civics that Empowers All Students” program in Los Angeles, where she will learn strategies to assist teachers working with students grades 4-8 in classes of 30% or more high-need students.

“I feel very blessed and honored to have this opportunity,” Pagotto said. “I’m excited for training session in Los Angeles and to be able to hear from scholars on how we can best help our high-needs students. I’ll then have a chance in July to spend a five-day seminar with teachers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey where I can share those resources and help mentor them on the best practices they can implement in their own classroom.”

The program is funded by a “Supporting Effective Educator Development” grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Among other items, the grant covers the daily substitute rate during the time Pagotto is out of the district.

Pagotto will receive a total of 52 hours of professional development in a learning community with mentors and other teachers from neighboring states.

“This is a great accomplishment for Erica and a huge honor for Lehighton Area School District to have one of our own representing our state on the national level,” Superintendent Dr. Christina Fish said.

No stranger to the Center for Civic Education, Pagotto participated in their three-year nationwide James Madison Legacy Project initiative beginning in 2016.

The program aimed to increase the availability and effectiveness of civics instruction in elementary and secondary schools and included professional development for teachers of high-need students in order to increase the achievement of students in attaining state standards in civics and government.

“That was another tremendous opportunity to work with teachers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and support them in implementing civic education in their classroom,” she said.

The skills Pagotto are bringing home to Lehighton from these programs are evident in her teaching, school board member April Walker said.

“I got to witness some of her teaching first hand and she is very invested and dynamic,” Walker said. “Her love and excitement for teaching the constitution is very apparent and contagious.”