The award was made possible through funding provided to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Beginning in August 2026, the yearlong project will bring together educators, humanities scholars, teacher candidates and community members to preserve and share Virgin Islands history and culture through education.
Led by the UVI School of Education in partnership with the UVI College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), the initiative will provide professional development that equips educators to integrate Virgin Islands history and cultural heritage into classroom instruction while expanding public access to the humanities. The project draws upon the content and scholarly expertise of the course HIS 342: History of the Virgin Islands offered through CLASS, while the School of Education will lead teacher development, implementation, partner coordination and grant administration.
"Our culture is one of the Virgin Islands' greatest educational resources," said Dr. Brown. "This initiative grew from a vision to help teachers bring the stories, traditions and history of our islands into everyday learning experiences. By connecting educators with scholars and community voices, we are creating opportunities for children to see themselves reflected in what they learn while fostering pride in their heritage.”
The project will engage PreK teachers from UVI's Little Bucs Early Care and Education Centers on both the Orville E. Kean and Albert A. Sheen campuses, UVI elementary education majors, and a cohort of elementary teachers from the Virgin Islands Department of Education. Participants will collaborate with humanities scholars, culture bearers, families and community members to strengthen place-based learning and preserve the territory's rich cultural heritage across generations.
"This grant exemplifies the interdisciplinary collaboration that defines the University of the Virgin Islands," said Dr. Lora Bailey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "By bringing together the expertise of the School of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, UVI is preparing educators to deliver instruction that is academically rigorous, culturally relevant and connected to the communities we serve."
The Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Teaching Showcase builds upon UVI's ongoing efforts to strengthen humanities education throughout the territory. Earlier this year, UVI received a $60,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support comprehensive updates to HIS 341: Caribbean History and HIS 342: History of the Virgin Islands. Required for many UVI degree programs, these courses also play an important role in preparing future educators who will teach in Virgin Islands classrooms. Together, the two grants strengthen both the preparation of future teachers at UVI and the professional development of educators already serving in schools across the territory.
Designed as a scalable pilot, the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Teaching Showcase aligns with the Humanities Council of the Virgin Islands' priorities of cultural preservation, accessibility, geographic diversity, public humanities programming and community engagement. By strengthening educators' knowledge and use of Virgin Islands history and culture, the project seeks to inspire lifelong learning while helping preserve the territory's unique heritage for future generations.
For more information, visit www.uvi.edu.
