Penn celebrated the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia\u2019s 20th anniversary on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The organization, co-founded by Political Science professor Rogers Smith, has worked with faculty at the University for two decades and provides<\/a> local teachers with university-level resources to improve classroom outcomes. Teachers across the School District of Philadelphia can enroll in a free fellowship program and participate in expert-led seminars.\u00a0<\/p>\n An Oct. 27 anniversary celebration hosted at the Inn at Penn featured speeches from School of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Trodden and Graduate School of Education Dean Katharine Strunk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n According to a press release, Trodden highlighted the the role Penn professors have played \u201cin sharing cutting-edge knowledge with teachers\u201d across Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Philosophy and Education professor Karen Detlefsen is one of four Penn affiliates teaching a fall 2026 workshop for the institute.<\/p>\n Get the DP delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign Up<\/a><\/p>\n She wrote in a statement that participating in the organization was \u201cone of the highlights\u201d of her time at Penn, adding that participants create \u201cinnovative\u201d lesson plans and curricula that \u201cprovide exceptional learning opportunities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Her course \u2014 titled \u201cDialogue and Disagreement: Discussing Hard Questions\u201d \u2014 focuses on how teachers can approach difficult topics and facilitate \u201cproductive discussion and disagreements.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Detlefsen, the institute \u201ccultivates a meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership between the Philadelphia School District and Penn.\u201d<\/p>\n The organization is affiliated with the Yale National Initiative<\/a>, which aims to strengthen public education across the country through a network of teaching hubs. The Philadelphia-based initiative selects cohorts of public school teachers to participate in free expert-led seminars and workshops \u2014 which culminates with each producing an original curriculum unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n