Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities Fellowship
About the Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities Fellowship
The National Constitution Center’s Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellowship has welcomed its first cohort of educators who will work to expand access to constitutional learning and civil dialogue in rural and remote areas across the United States.
Our Fellows:
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.
Working alongside local educators and school districts, 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.
CERRC Fellows: Bringing Constitutional Learning to Your School
Rural Educator Cohorts
The National Constitution Center's Rural Educator Cohorts are yearlong professional learning communities led by Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellows. Designed specifically for educators serving rural and remote communities, these regional cohorts provide sustained opportunities to deepen constitutional knowledge, strengthen instructional practice, and build lasting connections with fellow educators across the country.
Through monthly virtual cohort meetings, personalized office hours, and ongoing engagement with CERRC Fellows, participants will explore the Constitution using the Center's trusted educational framework of historical foundations through storytelling, constitutional thinking skills, and civil dialogue and reflection. Along the way, educators will gain practical strategies for integrating the Center's trusted, nonpartisan classroom resources into their teaching while building a lasting network of peers committed to expanding constitutional learning in rural communities.
Eligibility
Elementary, middle, and high school teachers from rural and remote communities may apply. During this pilot year, special consideration will be given to applicants from the following states:
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Participant Expectations
Cohorts will launch in October 2026 and run through June 2027. During that time, participants will:
- Participate in monthly virtual cohort meetings led by CERRC Fellows
- Build a lasting community with rural educators from your region and across the country
- Receive personalized support through CERRC Fellows' virtual office hours
- Explore the Center's trusted educational framework of historical foundations through storytelling, constitutional thinking skills, and civil dialogue and reflection
- Learn practical strategies for using the National Constitution Center's free, trusted, nonpartisan classroom resources to engage students in constitutional learning
- Participate in additional virtual professional learning opportunities offered by the Center
Benefits of Participation
- More than 15 hours of free professional learning, including a certificate of completion
- Ongoing connection to a national network of rural educators committed to nonpartisan constitutional learning
- Exclusive access to the Center’s Center in-person professional learning opportunities in your state
- Center educational materials and branded swag
- Priority consideration when applying the Center's Summer Educator Institutes
Applications will open on August 3, 2026, and close on September 4, 2026.
Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
On the Road
CERRC Fellows will facilitate processional learning sessions around the country, bringing the Center’s education framework and resources directly to educators nationwide. Check out the calendar to see if there is a CERRC-led session happening near you!
At Your School
Interested in bringing a CERRC Fellow to your school or district to facilitate a professional learning session?
The Center’s Education Team offers customizable professional learning sessions, allowing teachers and administrators to request sessions that fit their school schedule.
Please complete the form below if interested in planning a session for your school. A member of our team will follow up with you.
