2017-18 Changes
Evolution of TAGE, 2018.11
As of December 31, 2018, National Geographic Society will shut down the Geography Alliance program. They will redirect their resources into a new Education Network program.
Texas State Geography takes its responsibility to Texas teachers of geography and social studies very seriously. Therefore, as of January 1, 2019 the Texas Alliance for Geographic Education will continue its work under the Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education in the Department of Geography, Texas State University. Maggie Hutchins will continue to be responsible for the day to day operations of TAGE.
TAGE has existed for more than three decades and has helped thousands of teachers. We intend to continue to work with you to serve geography education in Texas.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dick Boehm, Director, Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education, and Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Chair in Geographic Education
Dr. Michael Solem, Associate Director, Gilbert M. Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education, and Senior Advisor for Geography Education at the American Association of Geographers
Dr. Alberto Giordano, Alliance Coordinator, Texas Alliance for Geographic Education, and Professor, Department of Geography
Dr. Yongmei Lu, Chair and Professor, Department of Geography
2017.09.12
Dear Geography Educators,
This summer the National Geographic Society announced a reorganization which moves its educator network model away from a state-based model to a regional, multi-state model. (Read NGS message.) One result of this change is the dissolution of the NGS Alliance Network at the end of the 2018. The Texas Alliance for Geographic Education (TAGE) and the Department of Geography at Texas State University remain dedicated to supporting geography education across Texas.
The Department of Geography and TAGE are re-organizing to ensure a continuity of service and support for our Texas teachers. A few immediate changes are taking place.
Dr. Ron Hagelman has stepped down from the Alliance Coordinator position. The department chair, Dr. Alberto Giordano, will serve as the account manager.
Maggie Hutchins will serve as the program director of TAGE. She will report directly to Dr. Giordano and is assisted by two graduate students and two undergraduate students with support by the department.
For 2018, one of our goals is to offer online PD to supplement our face-to-face workshops. We are also working with our partners to stay aware of the TEKS Social Studies Streamlining process, and are developing new resource materials to assist with the instruction of geography in the classroom. Please consider sharing your thoughts with us about your needs in the Educator Survey.
As always, we welcome your thoughts, comments, and concerns. We will all work together through this change, as we have in the past, to support geography education for our students.
National Geographic Seeks Top Geographers for New State Geography Steward Program (2017.09.05)
Message from National Geographic Society (2017.08)
For more than 30 years, the National Geographic Society has been dedicated to supporting educators to ensure that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global understanding. National Geographic created a grassroots Network of Geographic Alliances; established endowments to support geography education throughout the United States; and focused on educator professional development, state policy, and the creation of resources and materials.
Now, National Geographic is re-affirming our commitment to geography education and seizing this opportunity to integrate resources and assets and support educators through a highly interactive and integrated community that includes educators, explorers, storytellers, and photographers. As part of this “doubling down” on education, we are reconceptualizing the structure of our grassroots Network, to better leverage our community’s expertise, technology and to make an even greater impact on students.
National Geographic is moving toward a model that will provide full-time National Geographic staff in each of six regions across the country. In creating this model, National Geographic listened to our constituents. National Geographic spoke to educators in the classroom, our Alliance Coordinators, and other dedicated members of the community about today’s workforce needs and education trends. In addition, National Geographic incorporated academic research, enlisted the feedback of educational experts and consultants into the new approach.
National Geographic’s commitment to geographic knowledge is unchanged, but we are modernizing our approach and focusing our work.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/