SO MUCH SEPTEMBER PD!

One PD newsletter in a month is a lot, but two? It's a beast. However, September PD in our area truly deserves another full shout-out. We are jam-packed with great in-person and virtual professional development opportunities in our Wisconsin neighborhood over the next few weeks, so please take a look and see which one or ones tickle your proverbial fancy. Also, make sure you are saving the dates of February 19th and 20th for WCSS 2027 and consider submitting a project proposal using the link at the end of this newsletter.

Chuck Taft, WCSS President

OUR SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER LINEUP!

CONCORDIA A250 WEBINAR SERIES 9/17

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG PD AT UW-LAX 9/19

UW-MADISON TEACHING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS 9/26

FREE SPEECH CITIZENSHIP DIALOGUE FROM JMC 9/26

THE WORLD IN 1776 WEBINARS FROM WIRC 9/29

JOIN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BOOK CLUB

WCSS 2027 CALL FOR PROPOSALS!

CONCORDIA WEBINAR SERIES KICKS OFF ON CONSTITUTION DAY

Enroll in the "Celebrating America 250" FREE Canvas course here: https://bit.ly/4ua1dG5

Join Concordia University for Celebrating America 250 Webinar Series where they continue to explore the ideas that shaped our nation's history. Featuring expert guest speakers, mark your calendars for September 17, October 15, and November 19 - 7:00-8:00 PM. Share with your friends and colleagues! 

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT UW-LACROSSE

Inquiry in Action: Exploring the Past

with Colonial Williamsburg

A Free, Interactive Professional Learning Day for

Preservice and K–12 Educators

Bring history to life through primary sources, hands-on learning, and classroom-ready strategies from Colonial Williamsburg.

Investigate primary sources from Colonial Williamsburg’s collections, engage with a Person of the Past, and discover practical ways to help students ask questions, examine evidence, and interpret the past.

You’ll leave with:

• Engaging strategies for teaching with primary sources

• Free Colonial Williamsburg digital resources for your classroom

• The start of a personalized lesson or activity to use with your students

Saturday, September 19, 2026

9:30 AM–3:00 PM

University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

UW-MADISON TEACHING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS CONFERENCE

Join UW–Madison faculty, educational media leaders, and civic experts for a full-day conference designed for K-12 teachers and school leaders. The conference will empower K-12 educators to navigate complex political topics with facts, care, and strong instructional tools.

When: September 26, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CT

Where: Discovery Building, Madison, WI

Registration: $25 (Includes meals & t-shirt)

TEACHING THE WORLD IN 1776

Teaching the World with WIRC is a new webinar series for K-14 educators interested in integrating global perspectives on a central theme in their curriculum. On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the theme for 2026-2027 is The World in 1776. Throughout the five-part series, which begins in September during International Education Week, we’ll explore global events going on during or around that year; spotlight relevant connections between our regions and the American Revolution; and discuss the impact of American independence in 1776 and beyond.

The wbinare series begins on Tuesday 9/29 with Rebellion, Conquest, Reform: The Russian Empire Around 1776. Dr. Kirill Ospovat will discuss several intertwined developments within the Russian Empire and in its foreign policy and military expansion at the time of the American Declaration of Independence.

Free Speech, Citizenship, and Civil Dialogue

Saturday, September 26 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie, WI

The Jack Miller Center is partnering with the Menard Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Stout to offer a one-day symposium for Wisconsin teachers. The symposium will focus on the First Amendment, free expression rights, and the practice of civil dialogue, particularly in the classroom.Sessions will be led by UW-Stout Professors Tim Shiell and Afton Greco, and the Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service, Eric Giordano. JMC’s Teacher Education Manager, Emilee McHorney, will also lead an application session on teaching key First Amendment concepts and cases to middle and high school students.

Participants will receive a $200 stipend for completion of the symposium.

There will be a 1-hour virtual follow-up session to this symposium later in the fall. Participants who attend the follow-up session will receive an additional $100 stipend.

JOIN THE WCSS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BOOK CLUB WITH MONTICELLO!

WCSS 2027

CALL FOR PROPOSALS!

Are you ready to inspire the next generation of civic minds and historians? The Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies invites educators, researchers, and community leaders to submit presentation proposals for WCSS 27. Under this year’s theme, The Unfinished Revolution, we are looking for dynamic, engaging sessions that explore how historical struggles for rights, democracy, and equality continue to shape our world today.



Whether you have an innovative lesson plan, an interactive classroom strategy, or deep thematic content to share, we want your voice on the schedule!