Case Study: Model UN in a Texas School District
The Challenge: A Grand Vision with Limited Resources
In a large school district spanning 30 schools across Texas, the school administrators had a vision: to launch a comprehensive Model UN program that would build critical real-world skills in public speaking, negotiation and problem-solving, while also boosting the academic profile of their district.
While they were excited to get started, they faced a daunting set of challenges from the start.
The district coordinators didn't know how Model UN really worked, how to build a program, or even which conferences to attend. They wanted to run the program across the district for their grade 7 cohort, but only one teacher had ever been involved with Model UN themselves.
They needed a solution that was not only scalable but also manageable for busy teachers who were new to the activity. The central question was clear: how could they create a successful, district-wide Model UN program from scratch?
The Solution: A Partnership Through Teambuilder 3.0
This is where we came in. They partnered with us to implement a complete, year-long Model UN curriculum based on our flagship program: Teambuilder 3.0.
Our strategy was to provide a full-stack solution, giving them the tools and support they needed to build a sustainable program from the ground up.
1. Ready-to-Use Curriculum and Resources
We provided a complete, step-by-step curriculum that teachers could easily integrate into their classrooms. They received access to a library with over 500 pages of prep templates, research guides, and simulation materials. This meant teachers didn’t have to create a single thing from scratch—all the resources were ready to go.
The program was built on a "learn by doing" philosophy. Every lesson, from an introduction to the UN Charter to advanced debate skills, included hands-on training. Students weren't just memorizing information; they were actively practicing their skills. We provided a rich database of over 20 unique simulations that allowed students to master specific aspects of a conference experience in a low-stakes classroom environment.
This meant that by the time they reached their first conference, they had already practiced public speaking, negotiation, and collaborative problem-solving.
2. Coaching and 24/7 Access
We held weekly office hours for district coordinators and teachers to get everyone up to speed on Model UN concepts and rules of procedure. Our team also provided continuous support with 24/7 access via email, ensuring teachers always had a partner to guide them through challenges and answer questions.
A key part of our partnership involved helping them navigate their conference schedule. Initially, the district wanted to attend nearly one conference every weekend, but we knew that without a strong foundation, this would lead to burnout.
We advised them to focus on our Core Curriculum first, ensuring students mastered fundamental skills like resolution writing and policy-making before attending their first conference. This foundational approach made it easy to replicate their success at every subsequent conference.
The Results: A Thriving, Sustainable Program
Three years later, the results speak for themselves. The district has successfully transformed its Model UN vision into a sustainable reality, with the program now a permanent fixture in their curriculum.
After seeing the benefit to their students, the teachers themselves voted to keep using the Teambuilder program across their district. As a result, every grade 7 student now learns about Model UN and participates in a conference as a core part of their yearly civics course.
- Broad Student Impact: Over 1,500 students have gained confidence and honed real-world skills in public speaking, negotiation, and global awareness.
- Positive Student Engagement: Students are attending conferences, having a blast, all while learning valuable skills.
- Award-Winning Teams: Students are winning their first-ever Model UN awards, and entire delegations are even being recognized at conferences.
This success was not an accident. It was the result of having the right structure, support, and resources in place from the very beginning.
Turn Your Vision into a Reality
This success story was no accident. It was the result of having the right structure, support, and resources in place from the very beginning.
If you're looking to get started but feel overwhelmed by the challenges, our Teambuilder program can provide the partnership and tools you need to make it a sustainable, award-winning reality.
Ready to get started? Learn more about how Teambuilder can work for your team.
