Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso), nationally known as “America’s government teacher” and host of the podcast “Here’s Where It Gets Interesting,” will keynote Utah Valley University’s 2023 Fall Civics Educator Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the UCCU Center on UVU’s Orem Campus.
Prior to McMahon’s speech on the same day, the educator conference will run from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is sponsored by the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative (CTLI) of Utah Valley University’s Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS). It is themed “Home Cooking with Schoolhouse Spice: Teachers and Parents Partnering on Civics” and is intended for K-12 teachers and parents. Workshops and speeches will address how everyone can cultivate civics knowledge in the younger generation.
McMahon is a former high school government and law teacher who earned a reputation as ‘America’s Government Teacher’ amidst the 2020 election proceedings for her viral efforts on Instagram to educate the general public on political misinformation.
Through a simple mission to share non-partisan information about democracy, McMahon has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers online, affectionately called the “Governerds,” who use her information as a source for truth and logic in a society plagued by bias and conspiracy.
Presentations at the conference will cover:
- Our Shared Civic Responsibility
- Bridging the Parent–Teacher Divide
- Hard Civics Conversations in the Home
- Civics Resources for Parents
- Misinformation in the Digital Age
- Preparing the Next Generation of Citizens and Civic Leaders
The conference is free and open to the public. See Civics Keynote for tickets to the Sharon McMahon keynote address and Registration to register for the conference. Registration for this conference does not include a ticket to the McMahon address. It must be purchased separately.
About the Center for Constitutional Studies
- Established in 2011, the UVU Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS), a non-partisan academic institute, promotes the instruction, study, and research of constitutionalism. The Center engages students, scholars, educators, leaders, and the public on constitutional issues where political thought, public policy, religion, law, history, education, and economics intersect.
- Conferences, university curriculum, faculty scholarship, a robust research agenda, strategic partnerships, and K-12 initiatives are among the many touchpoints that allow the Center to prepare citizens with a broad understanding of thought and practices critical to the perpetuation of constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law.
About the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative (CTLI)
- CTLI addresses the sharp decline in civics awareness and civility in public discourse. House Bill 327 was introduced during the 2021 Utah legislative session to create and fund the initiative within the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU.
- HB 327 specified that CTLI would “facilitate non-partisan political discussion and provide civic education and research.” To this end, CTLI focuses on university curriculum development, K–12 training and support, and campus and community engagement.
About the Constitutional Literacy Initiative (CLI)
- CLI brings hundreds of secondary school students to campus each year for constitutional conferences. It also enhances the constitutional knowledge and pedagogy of secondary teachers.
