The Pennsylvania Educational Alliance for Citizenship is available to offer professional development opportunities for schools, curriculum consultation in civics, economics, geography, history and social studies education, and program evaluation for grant reporting, program improvement, and effective schools.

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Jim Wetzler serves as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Education Alliance for Citizenship. Prior to his retirement from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim helped shape governmental policies and served as an advisor to governors, legislators, school administrators and other decision makers within Pennsylvania, the United States and other countries on a variety of educational issues.

Jim participated in the development and review of national standards in civics and government, geography and history as well as chairing committees that advanced the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. Jim won national acclaim as the program director for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution and was an advisor to various state and national historical commemorative programs.

Currently Jim Co-Chairs the Pennsylvania Standard Aligned Systems for Civics, Economics, Geography and History development committee. He is also developing a summer graduate program The Engaged Citizen for the Pennsylvania Training and Teacher Assistance Network in support of the First Lady of Pennsylvania's civic initiative.

Recently Jim co-authored the educator guide for the PBS dramatic documentary The War that Made America and conducted 50 workshops throughout the nation for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and French and Indian War 250, Inc. Jim also participates as a history education specialist for the American Institute for History Education and the National Council for History Education.

Jim and his wife Karen live in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Cumberland Valley and have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Professional Experience

Instructor employed by the North Allegheny School District, Wexford, PA. 1979-2008:

• Taught ninth and tenth grade courses in American History, World Cultures, and Honors World Affairs
• Social Studies Department Chairperson for North Allegheny School District (1993-1997)

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (Social Studies), Clarion State College (1975)
• Master of Science in Business Administration (Management), Robert Morris College (1986)
• Graduate of Instructional Leadership Institute at the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (1991)
• Additional Graduate work at Clarion State College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Missouri, and Duquesne University (1976-2004)
• Teacher-Consultant for the Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance (1990-Present)'
• Legislative Action Consultant for the Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance (1991-Present)
• Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Council for Social Studies (1990-1993)
• Educational Grant Evaluator for the U.S. Department of Education (1993)

Professional Awards

Western Pennsylvania Teacher Excellence Center Honoree (2005)

Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Council for Geographic Education (1994)

Distinguished Teacher Award from the Pennsylvania Geographical Society (1994)

Certification

            Instructional II (PA)  Elementary Ed/Special Ed

Education

Undergraduate:  Millersville University, Millersville, PA  BS in Education , 1973

Post-graduate:  Temple University, Philadelphia., PA;

Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA; 

Marywood College, Scranton, PA; 

Cheyney University, Philadelphia, PA;  California University of Pennsylvania.

Teaching

Villa Maria Academy, Immaculata, PA 2006 to 2008

St. Maria Goretti School, Hatfield, PA.  2000 to 2006

Sacred Heart School, West Reading, PA.  1993 to 2000

North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA.  1988 to 1993

Institutes

Pennsylvania Governor's Institute for Social Studies, summers 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 (mentor 2008)

Pennsylvania Governor's Institute for Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship, summers  2005 to 2008 (mentor 2006 through 2008)

FIMS (Fundamentals in Math and Science) affiliated with NASA, the Chester County Intermediate Unit and Immaculata University (Problem-Based Learning), 2007 - 2008

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia - Financial learning through Children's Literature (summer 2004)

Interest

I am always looking for a challenge.  Each position I have taken on has brought with it new challenges and greater demands.  I enjoy change and adapt readily.  I love working with the youth, and I am excited about working with teachers.  Most of all, I would like to continue to make a difference!

Personal

            Married with two grown children

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2001-present         Central Bucks School District; Butler Elementary School-grade 5 teacher

1996-2001             Doyle Elementary School-Student Support Counselor

                           1989-1996             Butler Elementary School (Grades 1, 2,4, 5)

                           1974-1988              Bloomfield Public Schools, Bloomfield, NJ (Grades K, 2, 3, 4)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/EXPERIENCE

2000-present         Consultant/presenter to Pennsylvania Governor's Institute for Social Studies

1999-present         Contributor of lesson plans to ExplorePahistory.com - developed lesson plans for website on PA history.

1990-present         Teacher consultant to Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance (PGA)

1992-present         Presenter/co-coordinator of Summer Geography Institutes for PGA at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Bloomsburg University.

1996-present         Member of executive board of PGA

1996-present         Member of Pennsylvania Geographic Society (PGS)

1996-2004 Teacher consultant to Pennsylvania Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee

1990-present         Member of National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE)

2002-present         Member/Presenter of Bux-Mont Council for the Social Studies

1991-present         Pennsylvania Writing Project Fellow-presenter of workshops  "Integrating Writing and Social Studies" for PA Writing Project, West Chester University

1992                        Developed traveling geography trunk and teacher's guide for Please Touch Museum of Philadelphia

AWARDS AND HONORS1998       

Pennsylvania Geographic Society Award for development of exemplary social studiescurriculum for the state of Pennsylvania at the elementary level

1997       National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Distinguished Teaching Achievement  Award

1996        Central Bucks Teacher Recognition Award for Social Studies

1995        Pennsylvania Geographic Society Award for development of exemplary social studies curriculum for the state of Pennsylvania

EDUCATION

M.A.  Early Childhood Education, 1978 Kean College of New Jersey, Union, New Jersey

B.A.   Early Childhood Education, 1972 Kean College of New Jersey, Union, New Jersey (New Jersey Certificate K-8)

1989 Pennsylvania Certificate K-6

RELEVANT COURSE WORK

1990                        University of Missouri-6 credits geography

1991                        West Chester University-9 credits Writing Project Fellow

1992-1993               Indiana University of Pennsylvania-12 credits geography

1992                        Gratz University-Multiple Intelligences, Extending Student Thinking

1995-1996 Gywwned Mercy College of PA-9 credits elementary counseling

STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL BUCKS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cooperative Learning

PA Writing Process

Essential Elements of Instruction

Dimensions of Learning

Holistic Scoring

Performance Based Assessment

SELF-SELECTED RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning Committee for Instruction

Facilitator for summer sessions PA Writing Process and Geography

Act 48 District Representative

Building mentor for new teachers

Cooperating teacher for Penn State student teachers

District Technology Committee

District Social Studies Committee

Education

- PEAC 2009 Civics Education Training Institute "The Engaged Citizen"   (staff)

 -Master of Arts in American Studies (Penn State Harrisburg) - 2005

-  Master's Equivalency - 1992

- Elementary Education Teaching Certificate Program - Penn State - 1983

- B. S. Secondary Education (with high honor) - Auburn University - 1970

- NASA Mission Geography Institute - Texas A&M - 2001

- PA Governor's School for Social Studies Educators (2001 through 2007 ;staff)

- Advanced Placement Geographic Institute - James Madison - 1998

- Finding A Way Institute - San Diego State - 1997

- Keystone Integrated Framework Training Institute - 1995

- Oxford University (PA Geographic Alliance) Summer Institute - 1994

- Goethe Institute (Geography of Germany) - 1993

- PA Geographic Alliance Summer Institutes - 1993 and 1992

Employment

- Donegal School District ( Grade 7, 8, 9, and 11 Social Studies Teacher - 1988 to present)

-HACC (Lancaster Campus) and Donegal School District - College in the High School Program

-Social Studies K-12 Department Chair - 1993 to 2001 and 2002 to 2008

- Diocese of Harrisburg Grade 5-8 Teacher - 1983 to 1987

- PA Department of Education - SCASS project, Teacher Consultant (1993 to present)