Local Teachers Headed to Normandy This Summer With Grant

Two Stephens County High School teachers are headed overseas this summer thanks to a grant.

Teachers Derek Demmler and Amanda Rogowski have received a Rural Teacher Global Fellowship sponsored by the Rural School and Community Trust.

The goal of the fellowship is to create unique personal and professional development experiences for rural teachers.

According to the trust, fellows design their own international fellowship experience, learning goals for themselves and their students, and anticipated benefits for their school and community.

Rogowski and Demmler will be headed to Normandy, France.

Demmler said they will be studying the Toccoa connection to Normandy and the D-Day invasion from the perspective of the French.

“I want to know how D-Day is taught, not from the American standpoint of we went in and did something, but from the French standpoint of they came and freed us or liberated us,” said Demmler. “I want to look and see how that all plays a role.”

This is Rogowski’s first time going to the Normandy area.

She said she cannot wait to go.

“I am like the student right now,” said Rogowski. “I am learning so much which is always cool. I am like the giddy kid. I can not wait to be there. I am so excited.”

Meanwhile, Demmler said he was there a number of years ago, but is going for the first time as an educator, which he says provides a new perspective.

He said it will be an opportunity to spend a number of days in the region getting to talk to the residents, the leaders, and the educators to understand their views and perspectives on D-Day.

Demmler said they want to go beyond that which people know from the “Band of Brothers” book and mini-series and look at some of the other stories that tie back to Camp Toccoa and the paratroopers that trained here during World War II.

“We are trying to find places that played a role, where the troopers who trained here played a role, important battles, not just the ones in Ambrose’s book,” said Demmler.

Also, they will be there this June, during D-Day anniversary festivities.

They said that will also provide some unique opportunities.

Once they return, they must take what they have learned and gathered and create a study unit or lesson on their trip.

Rogowski said she is excited to share that with students once they return.

“I want them to see what we do over there, present that to them,” she said.

Demmler said he hopes they can also create something that can be used as a resource by the Currahee Military Museum down the road.

Both Demmler and Rogowski said they are grateful for the Trust’s generosity and support in providing them this opportunity.