LPB previews PBS kids feature, Galvez history series and teacher resources for the 250th

Louisiana Public Broadcasting representatives Nancy Torren (director) and Katie Stark (education specialist) briefed the commission on digital and broadcast materials LPB is producing for the nation's 250th anniversary and for civic-education use in Louisiana classrooms.

Torren said LPB was part of a PBS Kids initiative called "America's Awesome Kids," which selected a Louisiana child to appear beginning May 22 online and on LPB broadcast June 4. "His name is Jacob. He's from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana," Torren said; the segment will be accompanied by a standards-aligned curriculum on PBS LearningMedia.

Stark described a locally produced collection called "Louisiana's Hidden History," a four-video series about Bernardo de Galvez aimed at sixth-grade standards. LPB has also developed teacher-facing lesson activities (including an escape-room activity) and is partnering with the Louisiana State Museum, state parks and the Secretary of State Museums to deliver regional teacher-learning events beginning June 11. Stark said the materials are free on PBS LearningMedia and include interactive lessons that teachers can share to Google Classroom.

Commission members expressed strong interest in getting the material into state course frameworks and thanked LPB for providing teacher training opportunities across different regions of the state.

No formal action was taken on the presentation.