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West Virginia State Bar pitches 'Scholar Exchange' civics program to district
Summary
State Bar leaders asked Cabell County Schools to join the National Constitution Center’s Scholar Exchange program, saying it’s a nonpartisan civics outreach that has engaged roughly 13,000 students nationwide via volunteer lawyers and judges.
The West Virginia State Bar on Wednesday pitched a civics outreach program that would bring volunteer lawyers into district classrooms to teach focused, nonpartisan lessons on the U.S. Constitution.
David Amsbury, who identified himself as the state bar president and a Cabell County attorney, and Nick Gordon, chair of the bar’s young lawyers section, described the Scholar Exchange program run by the National Constitution Center. Amsbury said the program began as a virtual outreach after COVID and has expanded nationwide. "Where we are today is this wonderful program is now in 45 states, 560 classrooms, has involved 13,000 students, and has involved 170 attorneys who volunteered their time," he told the board.
The program pairs trained lawyers with teachers for short, topic‑specific classroom sessions delivered by Zoom or in person; Amsbury described the material as nonpartisan and tailored for the classroom's grade level. He asked the board to consider allowing teachers to sign up and to let local attorneys participate, saying the bar already has about 40 West Virginia attorneys signed up to volunteer.
Why it matters: The program could expand civics exposure and firsthand engagement with legal professionals, particularly ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Constitution mentioned by presenters. Participation would be at the discretion of local teachers and district staff.
What’s next: Presenters offered to provide more materials and to follow up with teachers and administrators to coordinate possible classroom sessions.
