PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 17, 2026) — The National Constitution Center today announced the inaugural cohort for the Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellowship Program, naming five of the nation's top middle and high school educators to lead a multi-year initiative to expand access to constitutional learning and civil dialogue in rural and remote areas across the United States.
Selected through a highly competitive national application process, the inaugural CERRC Fellows are Natalia Burgess of Reynolds, Georgia; Michael Davis of Chouteau, Oklahoma; Joseph Emery of Essex, Vermont; Nick Hegge of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Rebecca Smart of Maryville, Tennessee (formerly Dripping Springs, Texas).
Fellows will complete intensive training with the National Constitution Center's scholars and education team before serving as regional civic learning leaders in rural and remote communities. Working alongside local educators, fellows will lead professional development programs, facilitate peer-learning networks, and provide ongoing coaching and support. By investing in teachers and building lasting local capacity, the fellowship seeks to create sustainable communities of constitutional learning that expand access to high-quality civic education long after any single workshop or visit has ended. By the end of the three-year grant period, the Center expects to train seven to eight fellows serving 100 to 160 teachers annually. The fellowship's pilot phase will focus on constitutional topics such as the First Amendment, religious liberty, and the Fourth Amendment.
"Every student deserves access to excellent civic education, regardless of where they live. These fellows represent the very best of our nation's civic educators, and through the CERRC Fellowship they will help bring high-quality constitutional learning and professional development to rural and remote communities across the country. At the heart of this work is a commitment to empowering local educators. By sharing proven teaching strategies, trusted resources, and ongoing support, CERRC Fellows will help strengthen local capacity and build lasting networks of civic learning. Together, they will ensure that geography is never a barrier to understanding the Constitution, engaging in civil dialogue, or preparing students for the responsibilities of self-government," said Julie Silverbrook, Chief Content and Learning Officer of the Center.
The inaugural CERRC Fellows reflect the range of communities the program is designed to serve.
- Natalia Burgess taught high school U.S. and World History in Sumter and Peach County, where she has spent six years in the classroom while pursuing a doctorate in Middle and Secondary Education. A three-time presenter at the Georgia Council for Social Studies, Burgess has also served as a Teacher Ambassador with Kennesaw State University, traveling to Germany to study Holocaust education, and has published lesson plans on the Camp David Accords in Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State.
- Michael Davis brings ten years of public education experience to his community in Chouteau, Oklahoma, where he has built a record of advocacy for civic education through open dialogue and student engagement. He was most recently named site Teacher of the Year at Oliver Middle School in Broken Arrow Public Schools for the 2025–2026 school year, and serves as a Middle School Constitutional Fellow and Teacher Advisory Board member for the National Constitution Center.
- Joseph Emery has taught AP U.S. History and AP U.S. Government and Politics in Fairfax, Vermont for thirteen years, advancing civic education through voter registration initiatives, student trips to the state house, and student interviews with sitting legislators at the state and federal level. He has also partnered with the Vermont Secretary of State's office to develop civic education resources for teachers across the state.
- Nick Hegge brings sixteen years of classroom experience to his work in Lincoln, Nebraska, having taught Government, Civics, and dual-credit American History at Conestoga Public Schools and Logan View Public Schools in rural Nebraska. A 2020 James Madison Fellow, Hegge has served on the National Constitution Center's Teacher Advisory Board since 2018, and has long worked to connect rural students to their communities through mock trial, athletics, and civic engagement.
- Rebecca Smart brings more than two decades of experience as a U.S. History teacher and Secondary Social Studies Instructional Coach in Dripping Springs, Texas, and will be relocating to the Knoxville, Tennessee area for the Fellowship. Smart specializes in personalized learning and high-impact curriculum design, and her constitutional literacy work includes a current seat on the National Constitution Center's Teacher Advisory Board, participation in the Constitution 101 Middle School Design Cohort, and curriculum development for Texas Law Related Education on the founding documents.
Rural and remote communities, home to roughly 60 million Americans, often lack access to the rich programming and professional learning opportunities available in major metropolitan areas. Through the CERRC Fellowship, the National Constitution Center is committed to reaching these communities with trusted, nonpartisan resources and inspiring students and teachers to rededicate themselves to the Constitution's founding principles.
Administrators interested in scheduling a professional learning session for their school or district can contact the National Constitution Center's education team at [email protected].
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
