The Lou Frey Institute Convenes Educators for “Teaching America250: An Historic Opportunity”
Florida educators gather to learn about civics from UCF faculty and researchers in partnership with SPHERE Education Initiatives and the Jack Miller Center.
By Sultana Ali | October 3, 2025
Democracy is at the heart of the mission behind Lou Frey Institute and its multi-prong approach to civics education. The institute’s work with educators was the focus of a special event held at UCF on September 27 in collaboration with its partners from SPHERE Education Initiatives and the Jack Miller Center.
The event–”Teaching America250: An Historic Opportunity”–is timely with the nation preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence happening in 2026. The conference is the Lou Frey Institute’s third annual educator summit for social studies teachers held at UCF’s main campus in Orlando, Florida.
The Lou Frey Institute (LFI) is part of the UCF College of Sciences and its School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. Founded by Congressman Lou Frey, LFI houses the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship and is a leading provider of civic education instructional and professional development resources in Florida.
Stephen S. Masyada, Ph.D., the Director of LFI, provided a stirring keynote speech at the summit about the nation’s founding principles to nearly 100 educators and teacher-leaders from across the state of Florida.
“We The People matter, and in difficult times we heed the call that has come down to us over the centuries, that so many have believed in and fought for,” says Masyada. “We are teaching our students that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And we are helping them understand what that means.”
LFI is working to help students understand those principles, providing civics education in Florida’s K-12 schools, along with research, policy analysis, and advocacy work.
The summit focused on the importance of civics curriculum in schools through panels and breakout sessions for participants. Other speakers included Dr. Kimberly Hurd Hale, Associate Professor of Political Science of Coastal Carolina University; Dr. Steven Smallpage, UCF Associate Professor of Political Science; and Thomas Berry, director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies.
The final session featured a discussion with Masyada about what America250 can mean for teaching and learning. Panelists included Allan Carey, Director of SPHERE Education Initiatives; Lauren Altobelli, Director of the Jack Miller Center’s Founding Civics Initiatives; and John Snoad, Senior Manager of SPHERE Education Initiatives.
The America250 initiative is a multi-year effort to commemorate and celebrate this special milestone in United States’ history. Participants came away from the discussion with resources and learning that better prepared them for the challenges of teaching the principles so integral to the foundations of the United States.
“I need only look at my daughter, soon to be a college student, perhaps one of your students, to hope, believe, and have faith that this next generation of citizens will value these promises even more than we do today,” says Masyada.