I have been a classroom teacher for 20 years, the last 18 at Mendota Township High School. Since 2016, I have additionally worked with the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition as an Illinois Civics Mentor and Instructional Coach, and with the support of the Robert F. McCormick Foundation, have promoted civic education around the state, specifically helping high school and middle school teachers meet the demands of state legislation. mandating civic instruction. In my presentations, I share plenty of activities that I use to develop student thinking and writing while meeting the demands of state requirments and standards.