79 Teacher Fellowships for Social Studies Summer Travel PD!

Teaching Traveling: Want a GIANT list of teacher fellowships, grants, scholarships, and summer professional development seminars for social studies and history travel?

(Note: If you’re not a social studies educator, keep reading. Many of these programs ARE still open to you!)

Please welcome educator Stefanie Wager, the wonderful creator of this resource. Stefanie, tell us about yourself.

Stefanie: Hello! Here is a bit about my background, and how I came to create this list. After teaching for a year at a bilingual school in Naucalpan, Mexico, I received my Bachelor’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in Secondary Education with an endorsement in all social studies and Latin American studies.

I went on to teach social studies at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and then became the Coordinator of a $1.4 million dollar Teaching American History Grant for Des Moines Public Schools. I then received my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University.

In 2011, I was named an emerging leader in education by ASCD. In 2012, I taught social studies at Dallas Center-Grimes High School in Grimes, Iowa. Currently, I work as the social studies, world languages, and financial literacy consultant at the Iowa Department of Education.

I also serve as the President of the Iowa Council for the Social Studies and as vice-president of the National Council for the Social Studies. In my free time, I love to spend time with my husband Jake (who is also a social studies teacher) and my two children, Lincoln and Grace.

As a new teacher several years ago, I became hooked on applying for, and attending, amazing summer professional development for teachers. I participated in Gilder Lehrman seminars, the Presidential Academy, NCTA workshops, We the People, and more.

I learned so much through these experiences and now want to share how many amazing opportunities there are with other teachers.

TT: To that end, you created one of the most comprehensive spreadsheets I’ve ever seen of funded social studies travel opportunities for teachers.

Readers, ready to find scholarships for summer?

Here is the list of teacher fellowships!

TT: SO USEFUL! Thanks! Stefanie, tell us about your own professional development travel.

S: I recently traveled to Germany for a week with the Central Agency for Schools Abroad. We visited Berlin and Hamburg and mainly visited schools to examine the German approach to dual language immersion and vocational education.

The experience was amazing! I am still working to bring back what I learned and promote German language and culture.

TT: How do you find all these funded social studies travel scholarships?

S: I love the Facebook entitled Scholarships, Grants, and Summer Institutes for Teachers. There is an amazing community of educators who share opportunities, give tips, etc.

In general though, I also sign up for every newsletter I can from social studies related organizations so I can find opportunities to share with teachers.

TT: Yes! How did you find the money to fund your travel?

S: I am not able to participate in many of these opportunities anymore because of my current position at a state Department of Education, but I can say that most of the opportunities available are mostly or fully paid for.

TT: Tell us one moment from your educational travels that was particularly powerful.

S: I’m not sure if there has been one moment in particular, but I can say the thing that has stuck with me is the lifelong friendships I have made since I started participating in these opportunities.

TT: Well said. How have your travels impacted you?

S: The experiences I have participated in have been life-changing. My travels have definitely changed me as a teacher, but also as a person.

TT: What advice do you have for educators who are dreaming of travel?

S: Seek out opportunities, and if at first you don’t succeed in getting accepted to go, keep trying!

TT: Thanks so much, Stefanie!

Readers, what questions do you have about these teacher fellowships?