Loralea Epperson and Julie Wooten of the Brownsboro Independent School District joined other teachers from across the state at “Shaping the American Republic to 1877,” an institute sponsored by Humanities Texas, Texas Christian University and the Center for Texas Studies at TCU.

The Fort Worth institute was one in a series of six summer institutes hosted throughout June at Texas universities. Other participating institutions included The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Houston and Texas A&M International University.

Wooten, who teaches world and U.S. history at Brownsboro High School, described the institute as “an eye-opening experience.” She said she especially enjoyed “the one-onone interaction” with the institute faculty.

Epperson, who teaches English, language arts and ESL at Brownsboro High, said she will incorporate teaching ideas and strategies received at the institute into her curricula.

“Shaping the American Republic to 1877” drew 45 teachers to the Fort Worth institute for four days of seminars, lectures and workshops. Eight of the participants were nominated by their U.S. and state congressional representatives.

“Humanities Texas was delighted to cosponsor ‘Shaping the American Republic to 1877,’” Executive Director Michael L. Gillette said. “Giving talented teachers like Ms. Epperson and Ms. Wooten the opportunity to interact with their peers and leading scholars will enable them to engage students with exciting new perspectives on our nation’s history.”

The institute keynote lecture was delivered by Alan Taylor, professor of history at the University of California Davis and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History.