From the time Erie’s public school district organized in 1870 with 3,700 students to today, when it enrolls 10,000 children, countless stories have been told.
Trophies have been raised. Yearbook photos have been taken. Schools have been built and torn down.
The Erie School District is looking for someone to preserve some or all of that history and share it with the community. Applications are being accepted from individuals interested in becoming the honorary district historian.
“The district has gone through a lot of contraction and reshaping over the years,” said Jay Breneman, president of the Erie School Board. “Very little attention has been paid to our history.”
He sees the district historian program as a chance to test the waters of how to preserve the past for the future.
It’s been said that Babe Ruth hit a home run over Erie’s Roosevelt School, shown here being demolished in 2020. The Erie School District is looking for someone to preserve the history of its public schools, students and more.
What would the district historian do?
In a position that would last for two years, the historian would “propose and lead a unifying project that connects our past with today’s students,” according to a post on the district’s Facebook page.
“The project could be anything,” Breneman said. It could focus on people or buildings or something else.
Erie School Board President Jay Breneman addresses Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy seniors during their May commencement ceremony. Breneman is encouraging people to apply to become the school district’s historian.
He said potential historians will pitch their ideas and how they plan to collect information and tell the story. The individual would work with schools, students and community partners.
“Collaboration is my hope,” Breneman said, explaining that there are student groups that could be involved and community organizations such as the Hagen History Center.
The chosen historian would produce content such as articles, oral histories, exhibits or podcasts that showcase the district’s legacy.
“Ideally, it’s multi-platform,” Breneman said. “The final format is up to the historian to develop.”
Breneman said the specific focus and look of the project would be suggested by the district historian. He encouraged people with any idea, big or small, to apply. The hope would be to eventually integrate the information into the school district’s curriculum with the help of teachers.
The position does come with an honorarium of $2,500 per year plus resources, materials and project support from the district, he said.
Who is the ideal candidate?
The role requires someone with a knack for creative storytelling, Breneman said. The individual should be self-motivated.
Besides a keen interest in the school district, candidates should also be oriented toward giving back to the community, he said.
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While the district is seeking one historian now, Breneman said the program could grow to multiple historians based on its success or the project ideas submitted. He said the district has received a couple applications already.
What’s next?
Applications from individuals interested in being the district historian can be submitted by email or by mail. The deadline is Nov. 2.
An online version of the application form and a printable version are both available. Potential historians also need to submit a letter of interest, resume or CV and work samples. Breneman said more information is available by contacting the School Board office.
He said a committee including board members, administrators and teacher representatives will review the applications and make a recommendation to the full board, which will vote on the district historian. He said the board hopes to name a historian at its January meeting.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie School District historian sought to preserve past