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BRI Mourns Loss of Dr. Scott Petri 

by Bill of Rights Institute on

The Bill of Rights Institute is mourning the loss of a beloved colleague and deeply respected champion for social studies education.  

Dr. Scott Petri, who served as Manager, Program Partnerships for the Bill of Rights Institute, passed away earlier this month. He will be remembered as a devoted family man and educator, with a deep commitment to our nation’s teachers and students.  

A veteran middle school and high school civics and history teacher by trade, Petri was a highly accomplished educator. He was named Outstanding High School Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the California Council for the Social Studies in 2021 and was a 2023-24 PBS Invention Ed Fellow. 

Petri’s commitment to social studies education extended far beyond the classroom. He spent his career giving back to educators and working to elevate the entire field of social studies education.  

He served as a Board member and president-elect for the California Council for the Social Studies and was past president of the Southern California Social Studies Association. Petri was also co-author of The EduProtocol Field Guide Social Studies Edition, a resource used by teachers nationwide. 

Dr. Scott Petri (left) with BRI colleagues.

At the Bill of Rights Institute, Petri traveled the country delivering professional development training to civics and history educators. He often tweeted “airplane selfies” as he prepared to depart to new destinations to represent BRI, a long-standing tradition at the Institute.

“One thing that made Scott such an incredible educator was that he always wanted to learn. He was always reading and recommending books, eagerly trying new strategies and technologies, and looking for ways to share what he learned with others,” said Bill of Rights Institute Senior Director of Programs Joe Schmidt. “Scott loved working with teachers, but he never lost sight of what supporting teachers meant for students. He pushed for excellence, never wanting to settle for anything less than his best for every teacher and student he came across. Scott understood the transformative power of social studies education, and he made it his goal to help as many people as possible share that understanding.” 

“Scott was always a teacher at heart, and anywhere could be his classroom,” said Bill of Rights Institute Chief Program Officer Stan Swim. “Whether he was at a lunch table with colleagues or at a professional development program 1,000 miles away, Scott was always eager to share what he learned, listen, and roll up his sleeves to solve problems. We will miss our friend and colleague, but we will continue to be inspired by the passion with which he approached his work.”   

“Dr. Scott Petri shared our belief that teaching is the most important job in the world,” added Bill of Rights Institute President and CEO David Bobb. “He spent his career educating young minds and giving back to his fellow educators. Scott’s BRI colleagues will remember him fondly and miss him deeply, and we extend our sincere condolences to Scott’s family, friends, and many admirers.”