News Story Archives

iCivics Announces Inaugural Winner of The Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Prize for Excellence in Teaching Civics

Posted on December 4, 2025December 4, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

Shari Conditt, a U.S. history teacher at Woodland High School in Woodland, WA, is named the first recipient of the award that honors Justice O’Connor’s legacy in civic education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – [December 4, 2025] — iCivics, the nation’s leading civic education nonprofit and provider of free, nonpartisan civic education resources, today announced that Shari Conditt, a U.S. History Teacher at Woodland High School in Woodland, WA, is the inaugural recipient of The Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Prize for Excellence in Teaching Civics.

The award, presented at the annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) in Washington, D.C., is named for Justice O’Connor, who founded iCivics after retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court. Seth Harris from Shaker Middle School in Latham, NY, and Dr. Shelina Warren from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., were named as finalists for the award.

Unveiled just ahead of the 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence (A250) in 2026, the prize was established by Justice O’Connor’s former law clerks to honor her unwavering commitment to civic education, a cause she considered her most important legacy and contribution to the nation.

Since she founded iCivics in 2009, the organization has grown to serve nearly 150,000 educators and 9 million students per year across all 50 states and 80% of U.S. counties.

Conditt has taught AP Government, AP U.S. History, and U.S. History for the past 25 years. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and a member of the iCivics EdNet. She was the 2024 Bill of Rights Institute National Civics Teacher of the Year, the 2016 Washington State History Teacher of the Year, and the 2025 Ft. Vancouver Region SAR History Teacher of the Year.

“Justice O’Connor adored teachers, and they in turn adored her,” said Louise Dubé, iCivics CEO. “She was their greatest advocate because she saw that they were the true stewards and protectors of this country’s constitutional democracy. Shari Conditt embodies everything that the Justice admired and held dear.”

The annual award recognizes exemplary members of the iCivics Educator Network, a group of more than 350 civics, history, and social studies teachers, who demonstrate particular excellence, dedication and innovation in teaching the foundations of democracy. The prize includes $5,000 and recognition at an iCivics reception during the NCSS Conference on December 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The finalists will also be featured in person at the Civic Learning Week National Forum in Philadelphia, March 9–10, 2026.

“The law clerks are pleased that their gift will recognize this year’s honorees, who are exactly the sort of effective, innovative, and dedicated educators that Justice O’Connor would be proud to honor,” said Kathleen Smalley, who clerked for Justice O’Connor in 1982.

Finalist Seth Harris teaches seventh-grade American history at Shaker Middle School. He runs the school’s Law Day mock trial and serves on the Student Council, has earned multiple awards for excellence in education, and has also served as deputy mayor of Menands.

Finalist Dr. Shelina Warren is the Director of the Eleanor Holmes Norton Law & Public Policy Academy at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. A National Board-Certified educator with over 20 years of experience, she is an Army veteran and an award-winning leader in experiential, justice-centered civics education.

In addition to unveiling the prize at NCSS, iCivics will be highlighting valuable new educator supports designed to make teaching about A250 easier, more engaging, and more joyful for classrooms. The Civic Star Challenge helps educators bring the themes of the Declaration of Independence to life in the classroom—with the chance to win cash prizes. GoodEd.ai is a co-planning tool made for and by civics and social studies educators that helps teachers adapt trusted iCivics lessons and primary sources to the needs of their classroom and local community. The We Can Teach Hard Things initiative features educators sharing research-backed strategies for navigating difficult topics. Investigation Declaration, iCivics’ award-winning game, immerses students in a historical mystery that reveals how Enlightenment ideas shaped the Declaration.

iCivics also named the following educators as semifinalists:

Anne Hester, Lee County Schools, FL
Kimberly Huffman, Wayne County Schools Career Center, OH
Don Jenkins, Former teacher, Edmonton, MN
Linda O’Dwyer, Parker Junior High School, IL
Sam Westerdale, Rangeview High School, CO
Christian Wrabley, Greater Johnstown Senior High School, PA
Ryan Werenka, Troy High School, MI

Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics Announce First Round of Winners in Civic Star Challenge, a Nationwide A250 Initiative

Posted on November 10, 2025November 13, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

Sixty-three educators have been awarded $300 each for integrating themes from the Declaration of Independence into their teaching in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

WASHINGTON, DC [November 10, 2025] The Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics have named the first round of winners of the Civic Star Challenge, a nationwide initiative to inspire millions of acts of civic learning in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Civic Star Challenge makes the teaching of the Declaration of Independence digestible and relatable to today’s youth by providing educators with a repository of adaptable lesson plans and activities that teach the key themes of the founding document. The resources are available at civicstarchallenge.org. Once educators have taught at least one of 11 themes, they can submit a log of their activities for a chance to win from a cash prize pool totaling more than $200,000.

The Challenge includes four rounds of random drawings, each awarding $300 to selected teachers, and an essay contest that has a $10,000 grand prize for the winning teacher’s school district.

The Civic Star Challenge is made possible through generous support from Griffin Catalyst, civic engagement initiative of Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin; the Stand Together Trust; and The Pedersen Foundation.

Today, the 63 winners of the first round of drawings have been announced. The teachers represent more than 25 states.

“The Civic Star Challenge honors the educators who keep America’s founding principles alive in their classrooms,” said David Bobb, President and CEO of the Bill of Rights Institute. “Their work reminds us that civic knowledge and virtue are essential to sustaining liberty for the next generation and to helping students see their role in preserving a free society.”

“The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is an incredible moment to engage in the teaching of our founding documents and in civic education in general – and this has never been more critical,” iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. “We’re proud to be able to reward teachers for their efforts to connect the themes and ideals from the Declaration to the present.”

The winners are listed below:

Meredith Baker

Andrea Bauck

Jason Bennett

Nicole Bloodgood

Laura Bowersox

Patricia Capobianco

Stacey Clark

Allison Collie

Rachel Cox

Jessica Culver

Scott Cvelbar

Deborah Damboise

Marin Fairbanks

Taneeta Fair

Lauren Feld

Kristina Fischer

Jami Forrester

Randall Furash-Stewart

Jayme Gafford

Nicole Gasparik

Heaven Gomez

Andrew Gordon

Donna Gustafson

Evelyn Homan

Jeanette Hooks

Andrew Hutchinson

Andrea Jandt

Lindsay Kahoe

Samantha Keaton

Bridget Kaiser-Munday

Kennady Longhurst

Jeffrey Maendel

Laura McFarren

Amanda Meyer

Austin Migoski

Lindsay Miller

Katrina Neubrandt

Rachel Newman

Jackie Osborne

Beth Oswald

Michelle Palmer

Patrick Pavelchik

Victoria Pierce

Samantha Rumbaugh

Amanda Runkel

Anne Schmitt

Tiffany Smith

Tracy Son

Donna Stark

Adeline Steger

Adam Sturm

John Suter

Rachel Tate

Hailey Thomas

Deborah Torrens

Sam Westerdale

Holly Wittwer

Daryl Workman

Bryon Wren

Kymberli Wregglesworth

Nicole Wright

Blanche Wulfekoetter

Greg Yarnall

iCivics Youth Fellowship Marks its Seventh Year

Posted on October 17, 2025November 6, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

The iCivics Youth Fellowship helps students from across the country build civic leadership skills and explore how they can help make civic education relevant and accessible to all young people.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. [October 17, 2025] – Earlier this year, iCivics selected 34 talented high school students from across the country to take part in the iCivics Youth Fellowship. The students were selected after a competitive process that garnered over 500 applicants from 46 states and Washington, D.C.

The yearlong fellowship helps students develop leadership and communications skills as they collaborate with their peers and learn from experts in the field of civic education. Throughout the year, students research and explore youth engagement in civic spaces and the state of civic education across the United States. Fellows utilize their own lived experiences to become ambassadors for civic education and shed light on how civics can include student voices from every background.

The fellowship kicked off in August and moved into full gear with an in-person symposium in Washington, D.C., at the end of September.

“The Washington D.C. Symposium is a foundational experience for the Youth Fellows,” said iCivics Associate Director of Youth Engagement, Troy Petrie. “For some, it’s the first time traveling on their own. For most, it’s the first time they get to engage with viewpoints and perspectives different from their own. For all of the fellows, it’s a realization that we have more in common than we do apart. That’s exactly what the Youth Fellowship is all about.”

The fellowship will run through the 2025–26 school year, during which fellows will engage in virtual group discussions, workshops, and lectures with experts in the field, and undertake projects designed to strengthen their listening and collaborative skills. The fellows’ work centers around ensuring that civic education is available and relevant to all students in the United States.

Over the past seven years, students from across the country, representing rural, urban, and suburban school districts, have participated in the fellowship and become an integral part of informing the broader civic education movement. Fellows and alumni have shared their experiences and thoughts at convenings for the Educating for American Democracy initiative, Ronald Reagan Institute, Civic Learning Week, Commonwealth Club, and Andrew Goodman Foundation. They have been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and WBUR in Boston.

iCivics is proud to announce this year’s participants:

Arizona	Arkansas	California
Kosomak L.	Athena C.	Maxine P.
Colorado	Florida	Georgia
Lorenzo W.	Justin C. Frank U.	Dante E. Naomi L.
Illinois	Iowa	Kentucky
Jackson T. Jocelyn M.	Katherine H.	Ava June T.
Maine	Maryland	Michigan
William C.	Makayli G. Raizel H. Rebecca M.	Logan S.
Minnesota	Missouri	New Jersey
Fatima A. Abdullahi H.	Ridhima K.	Kayla H.
New York	Ohio	Pennsylvania
Eva F. Summer H.	Camryn H.	Charlie L. Landon F. Miguel R. M.
Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Majdi A.	Marco M.	Wyatt H. Lahpo K.
Virginia	Wisconsin	Alumni Mentors
Jacqueline A. Ayden B.	Ethan W.	Liana A. ‘23 (ME) Addison A. ‘23 (LA) Imre H. ‘24 (OH) Anvitha M. ‘21 (CA) Bradley M. ‘24 (CA) Carina M. ‘24 (WA) Fola O. ‘23 (MI) Tanner O. ‘24 (NM)

iCivics Featured in the New York Times

Posted on October 7, 2025October 15, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

Civics Education Struggles, Even as Government and Politics Saturate Daily Life

While this may be a good time to take advantage of the public’s attention, it’s also a time when teachers increasingly fear repercussions for offending students.

iCivics Investigation Declaration Game Wins GEE! Award

Posted on September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

iCivics’ newest game, Investigation Declaration, won the Formal Learning category at the annual GEE! Learning Game Awards, which recognize excellence in educational game design.

Winners were announced on Aug. 21 at the Play Make Learn Conference, which is hosted by the UW-Madison School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE).

“Play Make Learn is a fantastic opportunity to gather with folks that share a desire to create really great experiences for all kinds of learners,” said Senior Director of Digital Learning Carrie Ray-Hill. “It was incredible to hear our game announced as a winner.”

The game, developed in partnership with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, challenges middle and high school students to track how Enlightenment ideas informed the Declaration of Independence, which then went on to influence declarations of rights and freedoms abroad. Its design takes notes from classic games such as Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and includes puzzle and strategy elements of more modern games like Case of the Golden Idol and Return of the Obra Dinn. This complexity aims to help students discover how the ideas that influenced and shaped the Declaration of Independence went on to shape global history.

According to the official announcement, Investigation Declaration impressed judges with its aesthetic, engagement, gameplay, and accessibility features. One judge noted, “I found this a clever way of drawing connections across history. Too often we learn about one country’s perspective, not realizing the global context.”

“I was glad to see the judges appreciated Investigation Declaration’s gameplay,” Ray-Hill said. “We intentionally designed it to embrace student discovery. Players may figure out how the game works before their teachers, and that’s okay! The game gives them the freedom to play through one ‘path’ or several, empowering them to create their own narrative.”

New online game from iCivics and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation teaches how the Declaration of Independence inspired a wave of global change

Posted on August 25, 2025August 25, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Aug. 25, 2025) – iCivics and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation have released a new online game that shows middle- and high-school students how the Declaration of Independence captured the ideas of the Enlightenment and inspired movements toward freedom and democracy across the Atlantic world during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Investigation Declaration takes place in an alternate time and space where an international crime conglomerate has hacked the fictional Bureau of Ideas, corrupting every file related to freedom, democracy, and individual rights. Players take the role of “Agent 6” as they pursue the origins of these files and discover how ideas spread throughout the Atlantic world in the 100 years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

As students restore the corrupted files, they discover how the ideas of natural rights, state sovereignty, and the social contract spread from Colonial Williamsburg, Paris, and Philadelphia to Haiti, Liberia, and beyond to inspire a wave of declarations of freedom and rights.

Created collaboratively by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and iCivics, the game takes notes from classic games such as Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? and includes puzzle and strategy elements of more modern games like Case of the Golden Idol and Return of the Obra Dinn. This complexity aims to help students discover how the ideas that influenced and shaped the Declaration of Independence went on to shape global history. This innovative approach to educational game-making earned Investigation Declaration the prestigious 2025 GEE! Award in the Formal Games category.

Investigation Declaration, which is being released in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, merges the game-building expertise of iCivics and the research and education expertise of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Inspired by historian David Armitage’s 2007 book, The Declaration of Independence: A Global History, the team looked at the U.S. Declaration as an event, a document, and a genre to be adopted and adapted by people in the years after 1776. Investigation Declaration won the prestigious 2025 winner of the prestigious GEE! Awards

“Colonial Williamsburg is always looking for new ways to bring our unique brand of history education to as many students as possible,” said The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Education Mia Nagawiecki. “Thanks to our partnership with iCivics, we have extended our reach beyond our physical location and even our significant web presence to reach kids where they are and through a medium that excites them.”

Investigation Declaration represents an evolution in style for iCivics games, which has led the education gaming industry since its founding in 2009. To meet a new generation of gamers, it uses learn-as-you-play strategies employed by some of the world’s most popular games, such as Fortnite and Roblox. It challenges players to discover game elements as they explore the in-game world, which allows for a multitude of player-based paths through the experience.

“Investigation Declaration moves beyond the norms of classic iCivics gameplay to meet the moment in both gaming and civics instruction,” iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. “The goal of iCivics has always been to meet young people where they are to teach them the complicated ideas behind our constitutional democracy. If we’re going to carry out that critical mission, we must continue to evolve.”

Teachers who use Investigation Declaration can track their efforts and enter the Civic Star Challenge to win prizes for their students and schools.

The game is offered in English and Spanish and includes robust educator support materials designed to inspire deeper learning, engagement, and conversation in classrooms.

iCivics and Bill of Rights Institute Launch Civic Star Challenge, a Nationwide Initiative to Honor America’s 250th Birthday

Posted on August 18, 2025August 14, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

WASHINGTON, DC [August 18, 2025] – iCivics and the Bill of Rights Institute, two of the country’s leading civic education nonprofits, have launched Civic Star Challenge, a nationwide initiative to inspire millions of acts of civic learning in the leadup to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Civic Star Challenge will make the teaching of the Declaration of Independence digestible and relatable to today’s youth by providing educators with a repository of adaptable lesson plans and activities that teach the key themes of the founding document. The goal is to help students reflect on key themes such as sovereignty, the social contract, equality, natural rights, and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and to help them connect these concepts to today. These resources are available for free and usable by educators in both classroom and informal educational settings across any subject at icivics.org/civic-star-challenge.

Once they have taught at least one of 11 themes, educators can submit a log of their activities for a chance to win cash prizes totaling more than $200,000.

The first prize opportunity is a random drawing that will take place four times, awarding $300 to 63 winners at each drawing.

In addition, educators can submit 500-700 word essays on why civic learning is important in their classrooms. The essay contest will award one grand prize winner a $10,000 grant to their school and an all-expenses-paid trip to a national civics event. It will award 20 Civic Silver Star Award Winners a $2,000 grant for their schools, and 50 Civic Bronze Star Award Winners with a $1,000 grant for their schools. In addition, 100 National Civic Star Honorees will receive $100 and a digital Certificate of Civic Engagement Leadership.

The goal of Civic Star Challenge is to inspire millions of acts of civic learning before the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026 – and to teach students about the Declaration’s enduring importance and relevance today.

“The country’s semiquincentennial provides a once-in-a-teaching-lifetime opportunity to engage students in the Declaration of Independence’s 250-year legacy,” iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. “It’s more than just a challenge, it’s an opportunity to connect the themes and ideals from the Declaration of Independence to the present for lasting impact.”

The initiative equips educators with lesson plans and activities that explore the Declaration of Independence in a way that shows how it is still relevant today. Educators will have access to grade-specific choice boards featuring a collection of lessons, primary source activities, videos, and games from both iCivics and the Bill of Rights Institute – designed to fit seamlessly into existing curricula and used throughout the school year.

“America’s 250th birthday is an opportunity to educate and reconnect around our nation’s timeless founding principles, like liberty, equality, and justice,” said Bill of Rights Institute President and CEO David Bobb. “Through the Civic Star Challenge, classrooms across America will have the support they need to celebrate this national milestone and engage in the important work of ensuring our principles endure for the next 250 years.”

iCivics Educator Network Grows Elementary Representation

Posted on August 14, 2025August 14, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

The iCivics Educator Network has increased its elementary representation by nearly 48% this year, the highest level of elementary participation the Educator Network has seen. This growth reflects iCivics’ ongoing efforts to build out its elementary offerings, like the Private i History Detectives curriculum and iCivics Readers.

The Educator Network is made up of about 350 civics, history, government, and social studies teachers—now including 31 elementary educators (nearly double the representation of previous years)—who serve as champions and ambassadors for high-quality, equitable civic education.

“The iCivics Educator Network is a professional community of the best social studies and civics teachers who are building a movement to reinstate the civic mission of schools in every corner of this country—and that includes elementary educators,” said Natacha Scott, iCivics Director of Educator Engagement. “It is so important to start civic education at a young age, and we are excited to see more elementary teachers learning about iCivics and joining the Educator Network to begin building civic values in students early on.”

The Educator Network enables teachers to share best practices in civics and social studies, playing a key role in helping to empower students to engage as citizens in this country’s constitutional democracy, now and in the future. It provides opportunities for teachers to network with their peers, take part in focus groups, beta test new games and products, engage in special professional development opportunities, and build their voices as advocates for high-quality history and civic education.

Since it was founded in 2011, many iCivics Educator Network members have become some of the most prominent voices from the field advocating for civic education through the opportunities that the network provides. They are permanent fixtures as speakers at prestigious education conferences, routinely appear in both national and local media, and are recognized as excelling in the classroom.

“The iCivics Educator Network not only helped me develop best practices for teaching civics and government, but has allowed me to collaborate with educators from across the country,” said Michael Martirone, a high school social studies teacher in New Jersey and an Educator Network member since 2016. “I’ve had the opportunity to engage in meaningful pedagogical conversations, share civics resources, and seek new perspectives about my content matter—all of which has made me a better teacher for my students.”

The iCivics Educator Network includes educators with a variety of talents, interests, and teaching histories representing a diversity of grade levels K–12, geographic areas, and personal demographics. This year’s cohort saw an increase in educators from urban and “red” areas, as well as more educators who are earlier in their careers.

“We want the Educator Network to reflect the diverse experiences of teachers across the country,” said Scott. “We want to know how the educator in rural Kansas is teaching about due process; we want to know how the educator in a purple area balances teaching about elections. Sharing our stories is the best way for us to learn from each other and strengthen our mission to make civic education a nationwide priority.”

For more information about the iCivics Educator Network, and to find out how you can apply to be a part of the next cohort, visit https://vision.icivics.org/get-involved/educators/

2 iCivics Games are GEE! Award Finalists

Posted on July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 by Sophie Gordon

Two iCivics Games are finalists in the 2025 GEE! Learning Game Awards. Uncovering Loyalties and the yet-to-be-released game, Investigation Declaration, have both been recognized as finalists in the Formal Learning category.

“We are honored to be a finalist in the GEE! Awards again,” said game creator and iCivics’ Senior Director of Digital Learning Carrie Ray-Hill. “This organization really champions educational video games, and we are grateful to be among such innovative competitors.”

Uncovering Loyalties helps young learners in grades 3–5 understand the tensions of pre-revolutionary Williamsburg and encourages them to learn how people from different backgrounds brought unique perspectives to American history.

Investigation Declaration challenges middle and high school students to track how Enlightenment ideas and themes from the Declaration of Independence influenced rights and freedoms for a century. Investigation Declaration will be released in August!

“It’s exciting to see our two newest games get recognized for excellence in game design,” Ray-Hill said. “We always put students at the forefront of our designs, and we challenged ourselves to find new, engaging ways to immerse them in the games.”

The GEE! Awards recognize excellence in educational game design. Finalists showcase their games during the Play Make Learn conference, which “is a place for collaboration and discovery in the design, research and practice of playful learning, games for learning and positive social impact, making and makerspaces, STEAM education, and arts in education.”

Both games are also in the running for the People’s Choice Award, which recognizes the game people are most excited about. Voting is open now and ends at midnight on August 21.

GEE! winners will be announced live at Play Make Learn on August 21.

34 Students from Across the United States Selected for iCivics Youth Fellowship

Posted on October 1, 2024December 16, 2024 by icivics

Now in its sixth year, the iCivics Youth Fellowship helps students from across the country build civic leadership skills and explore how they can help make civic education relevant and accessible to all young people.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. [October 1, 2024] – Earlier this year, iCivics selected 34 talented high school students from across the country to take part in the iCivics Youth Fellowship. The students were selected after a competitive process that garnered 528 applicants from 46 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The yearlong fellowship helps students develop leadership and communications skills as they collaborate with their peers and learn from experts in the field of civic education. Throughout the year, students research and explore how civic education can become more equitable for students across the United States, utilizing their own lived experiences to become ambassadors and shed light on how civic education can include student voices from every background.

The fellowship kicked off in August, and moved into full-gear with an in-person symposium in Washington, D.C., at the end of September.

“Our fellows learned a lot from their time in Washington, D.C., and I hope they take these lessons back to their community. I am excited to see where the rest of the school year takes us,” said iCivics Youth Engagement Coordinator Michael Reyes.

The fellowship will run through the 2024–25 school year as fellows engage in online group discussions, workshops and lectures with experts in the field, and projects designed to strengthen listening and collaborative skills. The fellows’ work will be centered around ensuring that civic education is available and relevant to all students in the United States.

Over the past six years, students from across the country representing rural, urban and suburban school districts have taken part in the fellowship and become an integral part of informing the broader civic education movement. Fellows and alumni have shared their experiences and thoughts at convenings for the Educating for American Democracy initiative, Ronald Reagan Institute, Civic Learning Week, Commonwealth Club, and Andrew Goodman Foundation. They have been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and WBUR in Boston.