Americus-Sumter High teacher, Karen Kinnamon, applied and was selected to participate in a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer institute devoted to studying the life and work of American author, John Steinbeck. Given the title, John Steinbeck: Social Critic and Ecologist, this institute studies John Steinbeck’s writing, his cultural impact, and the ecological vision he shared with marine biologist Edward F. Ricketts.
From July 10-29, selected participants will conduct field studies in the Salinas Valley of California and on the Monterey coast and will attend lectures and have discussions on Steinbeck and his work. While participating in the Steinbeck Institute, Kinnamon will conduct historical research, create interactive approaches to teaching Steinbeck’s works, and produce cross-curricular lesson plans for literature, science, and history.
To receive this highly selective honor Kinnamon submitted a resume, two letters of reference, and an essay describing her personal and academic connections to the content of the institute and how the research and study of the institute relates to her teaching duties and plans. To learn more details about the content and participants of the 2016 Steinbeck Institute visit: http://www.steinbeckinstitute.org/