Liz (Ba il ey) Pa t er nost er a wa r ded Sa ga mor e of t he Wa ba sh

On March 16th, 2023, Liz (Bailey) Paternoster ?97 was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, to recognize her dedication to civic education in Indiana for over two decades. The Sagamore of the Wabash Award is the highest award a Hoosier civilian can receive. She began teaching in 2001 and was introduced to ?We the People? ?the Citizen and the Constitution in 2002. ?We the People? ?is a curriculum designed to encourage students to become an expert in our nation?s founding and the principles of the U S

Constitution Students then compete in a mock Congressional hearing and are judged on their ability to apply the Constitution, use sound reasoning, and supportive evidence when discussing issues facing our nation today. Since 2002, Liz?s teams have earned over 5 Indiana ?We the People? ?state championships and have consistently been recognized as a Top Ten program at the ?We the People? ? National Finals in Washington DC She currently teaches at Fishers High School in

Fishers, IN Over the years, Liz has also helped develop ?We the People? ?programs in schools across Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa as a district coordinator and mentor to teachers new to ?We the People? ? She was awarded the James Madison Fellowship in 2007 in recognition of her work across states which allowed her to continue her education and earn a Master?s in Education from Butler University One of her proudest moments was when a teacher she mentored in Indiana started a ?We the People? ?program at St. Philip?s School that allowed for her nephew (James Bohleber) and her niece (Isabelle Bohleber) to participate Liz plans to continue working as a teacher and ?We the People? ?coach for at least another decade commenting ?Civic education is more important than ever as our young people develop leadership skills and political stances amidst a barrage of misinformation on social media which is why helping them develop the skills they need to participate with civic virtue in our democracy is my passion!?Liz currently lives and works in Fishers, IN with her husband, Lyle, and her two daughters Emma and Reagan