ROCK SPRINGS – Three Rock Springs High School teachers recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Bill of Rights Institute’s Founders Fellowship.

Karen Kortnik, Heidi Rubich and Jennifer Wilmetti, all American Government teachers, were chosen from hundreds of teachers who applied to participate. Their fellowship was funded through grants from the Daniels Fund.

The theme of the fellowship was study of the first amendment to the Constitution and its implications on modern day America. First amendment scholars Dr. Vincent Phillip Munoz and Dr. Donald Downs presented information relating to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. In addition, Judge Richard Leon, United States District Court judge for the District of Columbia spoke on the challenges of modern jurisprudence.

In addition, participants visited the Supreme Court, the National Archives, the Newseum and the monuments along the Washington Mall. While at the Supreme Court, law clerks working for Justice Clarence Thomas spoke with the teachers and gave them a behind the scenes tour of the Supreme Court building.

Throughout the fellowship, these RSHS teachers had the opportunity to collaborate with 41 other teachers from across the country. Material learned during the fellowship will help the teachers to delve more deeply into the Bill of Rights in their classrooms.