TAHPDX: Project Partners
Portland State University
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
The Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies (IMS) is a service and research center located in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University (Portland OR). The mission of the Institute is to serve the communities of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area by (1) identifying the most pressing issues facing the metropolitan area and its communities, (2) building capacity in the region to address critical metropolitan issues, and (3) developing new resources to support research and service activities needed to meet those objectives. Involvement in the Teaching American History project enables the Institute to help advance the goals of excellence in educational institutions and services in the metropolitan region.
The IMS serves as the primary partner and provides both program coordination and content expertise. This combination of expertise, including history, drama, geography/Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and web technology, allows the Teaching American History project to approach historical research and inquiry in an exciting and innovative way. Portland State University also serves the project as a study center, public presentation facility, and graduate course sponsor.
Contact information:
Diane Besser, TAH Coordinator
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207
503-725-5869
tahpdx@pdx.edu
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Beaverton School District
The Beaverton School District participated in the 2007 and 2008 Teaching American History Project as a suburban partner. In 2008 the district was awarded its own Teaching American History Grant (2008-2011). Beaverton is the fastest growing district in the state of Oregon with 47 school sites serving over 37,000 students. This area is also experiencing significant growth in the districts' minority, special needs, and ESL populations. Closing the achievement gap and increasing academic achievement district-wide are key district goals. Beaverton teachers work and learn together with teachers from the neighboring districts in Washington and Clackamas Counties creating a unique urban-suburban-rural cross-pollination of ideas. Strategies and implementation exchanges through this program are designed to optimize teaching and learning outcomes in all districts.
Contact information:
Monica Gorman, TAH TOSA
Beaverton School District
16550 SW Merlo Rd. Beaverton, OR 97006
503-866-7812 (cell)
monica_gorman@beavton.k12.or.us
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Hillsboro School District
Located in central Washington County, Oregon, the Hillsboro School District is the 4th largest school district in the State of Oregon with 32 school campuses and a school-wide 2007 enrollment of over 20,000 students. Five new schools are under construction. With a commitment to good teaching practices and outreach programs, particularly to the district's large Hispanic population, the Hillsboro SD strives to provide its teachers and students with a "world class" instructional program.
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Forest Grove School District
The Forest Grove School District , located in the west central part of Washington County, Oregon, straddles a suburban/rural locality that includes Forest Grove, Cornelius, Dilley, and Gales Creek. The district serves over 6000 students covering a 225 square mile area with a diverse minority student population (40.6%) and a large ESL population (23.4%). The district is committed to innovation in teaching and learning.
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Portland Public Schools (2002-08 Partner)
Portland Public Schools (PPS), the largest school district in the state of Oregon, received two USDOE-funded Teaching American History Grants, in partnership with the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies at Portland State University. During the six years of the project (2002-2008), 50 middle and high school social studies teachers received rigorous history content training and access to innovative historical inquiry methods and tools. During that time, significant achievements were made in both teacher and student learning.
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Oregon Historical Society
The Teaching American History project works closely with the Oregon Historical Society (OHS). Operating for over a century, OHS is the largest historical organization in the State of Oregon. In addition to its archival services, the Society operates a press which produces a quarterly scholarly journal, the Oregon Historical Quarterly, as well as other books and publications. The extensive OHS artifact collection encompasses over 85,000 objects while the research library holds an enormous collection of records relating to Oregon. OHS, as a collaborative partner, allows the Teaching American History project access to its collections, research opportunities for teachers, and ongoing collaboration in developing educational curriculum units.
