Participants Travel Across the Country to Visit Historical Sites and Bring Those Experiences Back to Their Classrooms
Driven 2 Teach and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation are sending 66 Utah history teachers to United States historical sites for a one-of-a-kind learning experience at no cost to participants.
The Driven 2 Teach Program, underwritten by the Miller Family Foundation and Zions Bank, takes elementary, junior high and high school history teachers out of the classroom and to the places where history happened. This year, participants will study the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama and the founding of the United States in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C. and more.
Larry H. Miller founded Driven 2 Teach in 2007 to foster a richer learning and teaching experience of American history — one of his many passions — in Utah public schools.
“The Driven 2 Teach program, established in 2007, was founded by Larry and me with the intention of focusing on the importance of the work of our founding fathers,” said Gail Miller, chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. “We believe this experience will give teachers the tools to inspire the next generation of students to appreciate vital aspects of our country’s history and become more informed, compassionate community members, while focusing on and maintaining our values and freedoms.”
From visiting Independence Hall to walking the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, to seeing Mount Vernon, these dedicated teachers will take these experiences back to their classrooms and create a richer, more immersive learning experience for their students.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience American history firsthand and be surrounded by teachers and professors who share the same passion for education and history,” said Kallie Hansen, eighth-grade history teacher. “There is so much content and historical empathy learned while here, and I am a better teacher because of this trip.”
“Driven 2 Teach was an amazing experience that brought American History to life for me and, in turn, my students,” said Jessica Jackson, Driven 2 Teach 2017 cohort member and former fifth-grade teacher. “I wish all teachers had the chance to experience what I did and the impact my field study had on me and my classroom.”
This year, 26 elementary school teachers and 39 secondary school teachers from 21 different school districts will participate, impacting thousands of local students across the Beehive State. Participating school districts include Ogden, Orem, San Juan, Murray, Alpine and more. A teacher from the Utah School for the Deaf will also participate.
“Zions Bank’s support for the Driven 2 Teach program is part of our long history supporting education and teachers in Utah through donations, scholarships and classroom outreach,” said Rob Brough, Zions Bank executive vice president of marketing and communications. “Having just celebrated our 150th anniversary, Zions Bank keenly understands the importance of looking to the past to inform our shared success in the future.”
Teachers who participate in a Driven 2 Teach field study receive college credit from Weber State University, learn from topic experts and attend on-site lectures. In preparation for their field study and as part of their coursework, they review various books before departing and are encouraged to brainstorm ways to incorporate their experiences and course material into their classroom curriculum.
At the end of the summer, participants will gather and present their plans for implementing their field study curriculum in the classroom to the Miller family, representatives of Zions Bank and their cohorts.
“Bringing teachers to these historic places enriches their teaching and allows them to immerse themselves in our nation’s history,” said Libby Robertson, director of Driven 2 Teach. “By experiencing history firsthand, teachers ignite a love for learning in their students that extends far beyond the classroom.”
2024 Field Studies
Cohort 1: Founding People and Principles of the American Revolution: Boston – Philadelphia
June 9–16
Cohort 2: Civil War to Civil Rights: South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama
June 16–23
Cohort 3: Founding Generations, Founding Principles: Mid-Atlantic America
June 23–30
Driven 2 Teach Stats:
2024 field studies: 3
2024 participants: 66
2024 Participating Utah school districts: 21
Teacher participants since 2007: 1,278
Students impacted since 2007: Over 1 million
For more information, visit driven2teach.org
###
About the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation
The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation was established in 2007 to continue the philanthropic spirit exemplified by Larry and Gail Miller for future generations. The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation supports programs that enrich lives and communities in the areas of health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment.
About Driven 2 Teach
The Driven 2 Teach program takes teachers out of the classroom and to the very places where history happened – they travel there so they can teach it here. Those experiences then elevate and enhance history for their students.
The goal of Driven 2 Teach is to make American history come alive in the classroom by taking Utah public school teachers to important historical sites. The hands-on seminars are designed to inform, inspire, and support excellent classroom teaching.
About Zions Bank
Zions Bank is Utah’s oldest financial institution and is the only local bank with a statewide distribution of branches operating 95 full-service branches. Zions Bank also operates 26 branches in Idaho and Wyoming. In addition to offering a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions Bank is also a leader in small business lending. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank has been serving the communities of Utah for more than 150 years. Additional information is available at www.zionsbank.com. Zions Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation N.A., Member FDIC.
