Canutillo ISD educator selected for prestigious national history institute

Canutillo ISD educator Lourdes Balderrama was selected as one of 50 educators nationwide to participate in the Gilder Lehrman Summer Institute for Teachers at Marist University, a prestigious professional learning program focused on the leadership and legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration during the Great Depression, the New Deal and World War II.

Balderrama, a Special Education Transition Service Facilitator, participated in a weeklong institute that included scholarly lectures, primary source analysis and visits to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, N.Y.

The program provided educators with a deeper understanding of how Roosevelt’s policies transformed the United States and influenced the role of modern government. Participants also explored research-based instructional strategies, inquiry-based learning practices and classroom activities designed to increase student engagement and support diverse learners.

“Being selected for this institute was an incredible opportunity to learn from leading historians, collaborate with educators from across the country and bring new ideas back to our students and teachers in Canutillo ISD,” said Balderrama, a Canutillo High School alumna and doctoral candidate in History. “My goal is to continue using evidence-based practices that help all students engage with history, think critically and see themselves as capable learners.”

Balderrama’s participation reflects Canutillo ISD’s commitment to academic excellence, continuous professional growth and providing educators with opportunities to bring innovative learning strategies into classrooms across the District.

My goal is to continue using evidence-based practices that help all students engage with history, think critically and see themselves as capable learners.Lourdes BalderramaSpecial Education Transition Service Facilitator