Zulaica Konz-Gonzalez is an Instructional Coach at Central Freshman Academy in Phenix City, AL. She has worked 19 years in public education with 18 of those years as a Spanish teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Armstrong State University and a Master of Science in Education in Instructional Leadership and Administration from Troy University. Mrs. Konz was awarded District Teacher of the Year three times across two districts and is a Golden Apple Award winner. Her goal as an educator is to facilitate the instructional practices teachers implement to impact student success. She loves spending time with her family and traveling.

Dr. Rebecca Macon Bidwell is a native of Birmingham, Alabama where she taught in the public school system for 29 years. She is nationally board certified and has a doctorate from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in Educational Studies of Diverse Populations with a concentration in Pedagogical Studies. The focus of her dissertation was teaching public issues. Dr. Bidwell started teaching in the College of Education at Georgia Southwestern State University in August 2023. 

The title of her presentation is Using Controversial Issues in the Social Studies Classroom. This presentation focuses on how secondary teachers can use the discussion of controversial issues to engage students in learning the different perspectives about an historical topic. Attendees learn about the benefits of using controversial issues in the educational setting. Examples of the different types of controversies used in the classroom are provided. Strategies for helping students participate in the discussion are also provided. Resources for discussing topics, graphic organizers, and examples of the types of discussion help teachers feel more confident in the use of controversial issues.

Key Words: Controversial Issues, discussion, graphic organizers, constructive controversy

Jay Krueger has been at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, for over 30 years, initially as senior conservator of modern paintings, and being appointed head of painting conservation in 2013. He has served on the governing boards for non-profit arts organizations and numerous review panels for government arts agencies. He is a past president of the American Institute for Conservation and a founding board member of Voices in Contemporary Art, an organization that brings artists, curators, and conservators into conversation about preservation issues.