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POP CULTURE & GAME CHANGERS
INSIDER REPORT
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Our Mission
Certell provides educators and students with superior education based on the principles of a free society, empowering them to promote prosperity and well-being globally.
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Our Vision
Certell's curriculum is used by a critical mass of students to enhance the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed for the ideas of individual freedom and prosperity to spread throughout the U.S.–and the world.
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Did you know?
Out of approximately 160,000 high school social studies teachers nationwide, more than 20% actively integrate Certell's materials into their teaching practices.
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Dear Friends,
As we look back on the past year, we’re deeply thankful for your support of our mission. Whether you are a long-time donor, are considering your first gift, or simply appreciate our mission, your investment helps strengthen our commitment to empowering students to think critically about the principles of freedom and prosperity and their role in society.
As the holidays bring reflection and hope, we invite you to stay with us on this journey. If you’re inspired to help us reach more learners and increase our reach to 40% of classrooms, now is a wonderful time to make a first contribution or renew your support. Every gift—no matter the size—makes a meaningful impact.
Thank you for being part of the Certell community. We wish you a peaceful, thoughtful holiday season and a bright start to the new year.
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What are students actually learning?
Poptential students explore seven key American principles - a set of concepts they need to understand to become independent thinkers and actors in American society. These principles form the core of our history, economics, and government courses, and all students learn these principles as the foundation of American civic life. Through our robust analytics, we are able to track and measure student engagement and understanding of these concepts.
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Individualism: Displayed in self-ownership (agency), self-interest, personal growth, and responsibility
Liberty: Displayed through respect for free speech, religious liberty, a free and independent press, and the protection of property
Egalitarianism: Displayed through legal equality, diversity, equal opportunity, and social and economic mobility
Entrepreneurship: Displayed through a celebration of innovation, “second chances,” and the “pursuit of happiness”
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Governance: Displayed through limited government, checks and balances, the separation of powers, and federalism
Trade: Displayed through appreciation of commerce, gains from trade, value creation, and an economic way of thinking
Civic Engagement: Displayed through voluntary associations, a strong civil society, active citizenship, and a philanthropic spirit
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Sample Poptential Lesson
On This Day, December 10, 1869
In a groundbreaking move on December 10, 1869, Wyoming became the first U.S. territory to grant women the right to vote under universal suffrage. This was a bold step, especially considering that in most of the United States and throughout history, women had been denied this right. Traditionally, under English common law, a woman’s legal identity became that of her husband's upon marriage, meaning that she effectively lost legal personhood and the right to manage her own property. Since property ownership was a requirement for voting, most married women were unable to qualify. However, widows, who regained control of family property upon their husbands' deaths, could sometimes vote if their property holdings met the qualification threshold.
During the early 1800s, as property requirements were lifted and the idea of universal male suffrage gained popularity, many widows also lost the right to vote. Wyoming's decision to grant universal suffrage without property restrictions was revolutionary, not only setting an example for other states but also challenging social norms about gender equality and individual rights. Over the next few decades, other states would follow Wyoming's lead, culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted voting rights to women across the United States. This shift reflects the American principle of individual rights, emphasizing that every person, regardless of gender, should have an equal voice in shaping their government.
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Meet the Team!
Julie Smitherman
Vice President of Programs
Julie leads content strategy, contributes to the economics textbook, manages internships, oversees editing, supervises quality control, establishes and manages relevant partnerships, and provides support for teachers.
Prior to joining Certell in 2019, Julie was a high school social studies teacher for eight years before joining Certell to help craft its social studies curriculum. She holds a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in social studies teacher education from Purdue University.
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PostPossible manages and distributes 3rd party content, innovative apps, offline capabilities to solve the last-mile problem for both content consumption and distribution, and robust and detailed analytics-paired with an innovative dashboard to measure impact. | | |
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Poptential™ is a family of high school social studies courses that pair pop culture media with digital storytelling for effective hybrid learning. Increase classroom engagement with quizzes, lesson plans, bell ringers and more.
Available at no cost for high school American history, world history, government, and economics.
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Join a Circle and help us
educate future generations!
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