1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OGDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Contact: Zac Williams, Communications Director
Phone: 801 737 7310
Cell: 801 695 5145
williamsz@ogdensd.org
OGDEN HISTORY TEACHERS SELECTED FOR
LARRY H. MIILLER DRIVEN 2 TEACH PROGRAM
Ogden, Utah – July 15, 2015 - Larry H. Miller’s Driven 2 Teach program, sponsored by Zion’s
Bank, selected Denise Lopez and Jessica Jackson, both history teachers at Mound Fort Junior
High School, to participate in its “American’s Founding Principals and Founding Fathers”
historical exploration of the area between New York City and Philadelphia. Started in 2007,
Driven 2 Teach takes American history teachers from Utah public schools through a hands-on
seminar designed to inform, inspire, and support excellent classroom teaching.
With more than 800 applicants, Lopez and Jackson were ecstatic to be selected as one
of the 30 participants in their chosen field studies. Lopez said she believes one reason they
were chosen was because Mound Fort is a Title One school with many kids living in low-income
situations. “When we build our lesson plans, we really try to make them as informative and as
fun as possible while still focusing on our specific population of kids,” she said. “Many students
will never have the opportunity to go to these places, so we take on the responsibility of finding
tools we can use in ways that will enhance their learning.”
After discussing his passion for history with American author and historian David
McCullough, Larry H. Miller decided to develop a program that would help teachers improve the
way American history is taught in Utah public schools. Since its inception, Driven 2 Teach has
become a sought after program by Utah teachers looking to enhance their skills. “It’s not a
vacation for us,” said Jackson. “We did a lot before going, so we could really understand the
history behind what we were seeing.” Partnering with Weber State University, Driven 2 Teach
also provides its participants with six university credits.

2. Lopes said her favorite part of the trip was learning the pedagogy taught by Dr. Jeff
Knokes, assistant professor in history at BYU and Cindy Ness, social studies educator at Alpine
School District and history professor at BYU. “It is important that teachers know the lessons they
are teaching,” she said. “Learning the literary piece really helps us with the students reading and
writing, which we do everyday.”
Both Lopez and Jackson want to incorporate using historical novels, scholarly articles
and primary documents into their curriculum, which Jackson said was the most interesting piece
for her during the trip. “One of my favorite things was how Knokes reiterated that everyone has
a bias,” she said. “So long as we talk about the bias within the historical novels, the kids get a
richer perspective and can make their own informed decision about history.”
Gail Miller, Larry H. Miller Companies owner, in collaboration with Scott Anderson, Zions
bank president and chief executive officer, has made it a goal to continue her husband’s
passion for history and desire to give Utah history teachers the opportunity to visit historical
sites, where they learn the meaningful context and gain personal experience to can take back to
share with their students in the classroom.
Lopez and Jackson are both excellent teachers said Mound Fort Principal Becky Ellis.
“These Ogden teachers are going above and beyond to be the best teachers possible for our
students,” she said, adding that last year Lopez received the Achieving Higher award and
Jackson was honored as Teacher of the Month.
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Contact:
Zac Williams, Director of Communications, Ogden School District
Cell: 801 695 5145 williamsz@ogdensd.org
Twitter: zac_williams
Author:
Skyler Pyle, Communications Assistant, Ogden School District
Cell: 801 695 5145 spyle@ogdensd.org
Twitter: @skylerpyle