Philadelphia School District Educator joins National Park Service in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program

Date: July 24, 2013
Contact: Jane Cowley, 215-597-0060

Philadelphia – Independence National Historical Park has hired Philadelphia School District Educator Cindy O'Donnell as part of the national Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program. O'Donnell is working at Independence National Historical Park through the summer, sharing her education skills with park staff to improve the park's programs for school students.

The Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program helps teachers understand the importance of historical preservation, improves the park's education programs, and provides stronger links between the National Park Service and the School District of Philadelphia.

Cindy O'Donnell has been a teacher with the Philadelphia School District for thirteen years.Starting in September, she will be teaching third grade at Watson T. Comly Elementary School."An engaged student is my greatest inspiration," O'Donnell said. "I'm really all about teaching students that learning is fun!"

In her time at the park so far, O'Donnell has updated the park's numerous on-line lesson plans to identity the Common Core State Standards associated with each lesson.She has helped the park to develop professional development workshops that will be offered to teachers for the upcoming school year.O'Donnell will also spend time working in the Franklin Print Shop, to learn the role of park rangers who work with the public.

"The skills and excitement that Cindy brings to the job is tremendous," said Jeffrey Collins, Education Program Manager for the park."It's always a pleasure to work with local educators not only because of their enthusiasm but also because of the value they add to our educational program."

www.nps.gov/inde

A unit of the National Park Service, Independence National Historical Park was created by an Act of Congress on June 28, 1948.Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Independence NHP covers almost 54 acres in Philadelphia's Old City, and includes Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other historic buildings associated with the founding of the United States.