BRI Helped Energize This Teacher’s Career

By Sean Redmond

In 2008, I searched the internet for information to help me with my civics and U.S. History classes, and I stumbled upon the Bill of Rights Institute. I liked the limited information and was able to use some of it with my students. The website looked nothing like the quality product it is today.

I checked back on the website from time to time for the next few years. Today, I can look back and see the evolution of BRI’s mission and my own teaching mission were following a similar path that would eventually converge with a huge impact on my teaching career. In 2014, I came across the application for the weeklong Founders’ Fellowship in Washington, D.C. It previously escaped my attention that BRI offered in-person training, but this looked like an amazing experience. I applied and was accepted, and it would soon encourage, establish, and cement my growing philosophy and mission of teaching my subject.

By 2014, I was teaching for more than 20 years and was a little frustrated with how teaching civics changed. I thought liberty and other founding principles were instinctual, but I was mistaken. My generation was taught these principles but many, if not most, of my students now were not. I decided the increase in tribalism and lack of civil discourse had far less to do with understanding and agreeing with politics than agreeing with the founding principles and virtues of our republic. When I studied at the Founders’ Fellowship, I saw BRI had a mission that was even ahead of what I was thinking.

When students ask me what my politics are, I answer: “Liberty and Justice.” That’s the mission of BRI – to equip teachers and students to practice the ideals of a free and just society. I like that BRI addresses difficult issues too. They attempt to tackle the issues involved with times when certain politicians, groups, areas, etc., have not abided by our founding virtues and principles. It is important to me that BRI wants to answer the question of why we sometimes fell short of being a free and just society in the past and how that can help us not repeat those mistakes in the future.

BRI inspired my students and me to a greater understanding and hunger to know more through exploring primary sources and the critical thinking skills necessary for comprehension. In 2022, I used BRI curricula, resources, lessons, videos, etc., every week. The quality continues to improve.

When I first met the people at BRI, I knew I found something special. They are real teachers who know what teachers and students need and want. They are people of honor who are true to their mission, and they practice and are committed to our founding principles and virtues. I decided to use as much of the collective wisdom and knowledge at BRI as I could and decided to give back as much as I could.

I became a member of the BRI National Teacher Council, and I continue to offer my services to a great organization that I believe provides a service to educators and students with quality educational tools. I am not the same teacher after BRI’s impact on my career. I continue to grow exponentially and share BRI with many students and colleagues. I owe a debt of gratitude to BRI for making my career more interesting and fun.

Sean Redmond teaches civics and U.S. History at Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, CA, and is a member of the Bill of Rights Institute National Teacher Council.