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Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 8:00 AM — Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 12:00 PM CDT

National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education | July 2025 | Atchison, KS
Teacher Development Series
National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education

National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education | July 2025 | Atchison, KS

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07/21/25 8:00 AM 07/22/25 12:00 PM America/Chicago National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education | July 2025 | Atchison, KS <p><strong></strong><strong>Synopsis</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p><br> </p> <p>The <strong>2025 National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education</strong> (Benedictine College, July 21–22) will gather K-12 teachers, principals, and mission-driven nonprofit leaders to recover one central conviction: <em>robust civic formation begins with a dramatic, story-rich study of history.</em> Across two days, we will explore how narrative history ignites students’ imagination, grounds their love of country in truth, and equips them to serve the common good as faithful Catholic citizens. The Summit’s unifying lens rejects both technocratic “data-and-dates” social-studies minimalism as well as calls for an integralist break with the American founding; instead, it affirms a liberal, virtue-oriented reading of the Republic that harmonizes Catholic Social Teaching with the best of our constitutional heritage.</p> <p><strong>Speaker line-up.</strong> Opening the conference, <strong>Andrew Zwerneman</strong> (Founder, Cana Academy) will deliver the keynote <em>History: Recovering the Liberal Discipline for Civic Formation</em>, showing how epic narrative and primary sources kindle civic virtue in students. He will be joined by classical-education author <strong>Martin Cothran&nbsp;</strong>(<em>What Education Can Do</em>), who will trace the relationship between Christian education, civic virtue, and the preservation of a republic, and by <strong>David Denton</strong>, whose plenary on heroic biography will model concrete classroom practice. A closing talk, <strong>“Civics, Not Politics,”</strong> from <strong>Erik Twist</strong> will challenge attendees to form citizen-disciples rather than partisan foot-soldiers. Speakers will also appear together in a moderated panel, distilling practical insights and fielding audience questions.</p> <p><strong><br> </strong></p> <p><strong>What to expect.</strong> The schedule interlaces daily Mass, four high-impact plenaries, and two rounds of focused break-outs: (1) teaching with primary sources; (2) introducing students to public policy; (3) measuring civic virtue and mission outcomes; and (4) a collaborative <em>Build-Your-Civic-Curriculum</em><br> lab led by textbook publisher <strong>Mike Van Hecke</strong>, as well as a session lead by <strong>Michael Maibach</strong> (distinguished fellow at <em>Save our States</em> and chairman of the <em>Center for Constitutional Liberty’s DC Advisory Board</em>) on <em>How to teach the electoral college</em>. Networking receptions, a showcase of the new <em>History 250</em> resource suite, and the Herzog Foundation program spotlight ensure participants leave with both intellectual formation and concrete tools for immediate implementation.<br> </p> <p><strong>Take-aways for attendees.</strong> By the closing benediction, school teams will possess:</p> <br> <ul><li>- a clear roadmap for embedding narrative history and Catholic Social Teaching into every grade’s civics sequence;</li><li>- model lesson plans and assessment rubrics for cultivating virtue, citizenship skills, and love of country;</li><li>- actionable strategies for launching service-learning or public-policy modules consonant with Church teaching;</li></ul> <br> In short, the Summit will equip Catholic educators to reclaim history as the seedbed of civic virtue—forming graduates who love God, serve neighbor, and steward the blessings of American liberty with wisdom and grace.<br> <br> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br> </strong></p> <p><strong>Who’s it</strong><strong> Fo</strong><strong>r? </strong></p> <p>We recommend schools bring two to three members&nbsp;to this training. There will be sessions for headmasters/administration, teachers, and other nonprofit leaders in this space. </p> <p></p> <p>Benedictine College, with the generous support of the William S. Knight Foundation, has funding available to supplement travel costs for participants in need of additional financial support. As a reminder, your hotel, transportation to the college, and meals are covered while on site. If you would like to request travel assistance, please contact Isaac Michael (mich6483@ravens.benedictine.edu).</p> <p><strong><br> </strong></p> <p><strong>Schedule</strong> </p> <p><strong>Day 0: TRAVEL DAY| Hotel provided</strong></p> <p><strong>Day 1: 8am-6pm | Hotel provided</strong></p> <p><strong>Day 2: 8am-12pm | Do not plan travel that would require you to depart early</strong></p> <p> <br> </p> Benedictine College 1020 North 2nd Street, Atchison, KS 66002 United States National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education | July 2025 | Atchison, KS training@herzogfoundation.com false MM/DD/YYYY
Jul
21
Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 8:00 AM — Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 12:00 PM CDT

Where

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Benedictine College
1020 North 2nd Street
Atchison, KS 66002 United States

National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education Application | July 2025
National Summit on Civics in Catholic Education | July 2025 | Atchison, KS
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