Forty nine high school teachers from twelve school districts met at the Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center (ESC) on March 6 & 7, 2017 for another lesson in the Landmark Moments Fellowshipseries. This year the group is studying the American West with an emphasis on Pueblo History. Mr. Porter Swentzell, Assistant Professor at the Institute of American Indian Arts located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the presenter. He grew up on the Santa Clara Pueblo and was able to bring to life the differences in cultures, impact of the pueblo eco systems, history of the region, and policy implications with federal and state government. He was accompanied by Ms. Nicole Lovato, Pueblo Scholar, from the Santa Domingo Pueblo. Mr. Swentzell said that he rented a car at the airport in Columbus, Ohio and commented to Nicole that she would have to watch the road as he was intrigued with the green landscape and water that was so different from the pueblo areas of New Mexico.
Dr. Denise Shockley, ESC Superintendent, extended the teachers experience with authentic foods representative of the pueblo region. Lunch foods included Fry Bread Indian Tacos, Santa Fe Almond Slaw, Carne Adovada, Machaca Con Huevos, Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa, New Mexico Chicken Casserole, Calabacitas, Mexican Rice, Blue Cornbread, Tres Leches Cake, and Mexican Brownies with Pine Nuts.
The Landmark Moments group will finish their yearly program in June 2017 with field studies beginning in the Texas panhandle and continuing on into New Mexico. The Landmark Moments Fellowship provides real life experiences to social studies, language arts, and special education teachers in Grades 7-12 in order for them to expand and enhance their classroom lessons. Teachers report utilizing many new teaching strategies, providing more in-depth content, and displaying artifacts in their daily instruction as a result of participating in the program.