Margaret Smith Crocco, associate professor of social studies and education at Columbia University's Teachers College, gave the keynote address at a summer institute focused on including women in the teaching of American history.

Crocco's presentation was part of the two-week American History as Dialogue Summer Institute co-sponsored by the Warner School and Monroe #1 BOCES in Fairport. The institute and related activities throughout the year are directed by Ellen Santora, assistant professor, teaching and curriculum, and funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Teaching American History Grant Program.

This year's institute, "Into the Mainstream: Including Women in American History," examined critical issues related to women in the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, Social Reform, and the Cold War Era. Participants reflected on the creation of historical understanding by using rare books, records, documents, and oral histories. Thirty-six participants representing 13 local and regional school districts and organizations developed curriculum modules for use in their own classes.

The institute was noted in a Rochester Democrat and Chronicle column by Denise-Marie Santiago titled "Exercise in honesty: Why women's history matters" on July 25.