On July 10 some lucky Washington Region history teacher will receive a $5,000 award as the first annual Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year. That teacher's students and school will also benefit from an all-expenses-paid field trip to Mount Vernon Estate and its new museum exploring the life and time of America's first president.
Announcement of the award will occur at the conclusion of the ninth annual George Washington Teachers' Institute to be held at Mount Vernon Estate July 9 and 10, according to Emily Coleman Dibella, director, Mount Vernon Media Relations. Funded by an anonymous local donor, the two day free program provides an intensive study of Washington, his key generals and the first presidential cabinet through discussions led by prominent authors, professors, and Washington scholars.
During the institute, teachers will have access to the newly opened Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center, featuring lesson plans, bibliographies, biographies, general histories, and educational CD-ROMs and DVDs. Teacher Created Materials will provide participating teachers with free instructional materials.
The Center's four computer bays provide direct connection to the expanded "scholars' version" of the newly digitized "Papers of George Washington." This access enables teachers to explore thousands of original Washington documents.
Supported by an endowment established by the Robertson Foundation in 1996 by Tiger Management founder Julian H. Robertson, Jr., his wife Josie, and their family, the History Teacher of the Year Award honors excellence in history education. Any teacher in the Washington Metropolitan Area who teaches American History in grades three through 12, and who has at least two years of teaching experience is eligible, according to Mount Vernon's Education Department.
Following the award ceremony, attendees will receive a private evening tour of the Mansion with cocktails on the Piazza. Space for this fully-funded program is limited. For registration/reservation details call the Mount Vernon Education Department at 703-799-8604.
Day 1 focuses on "Winning the War: Washington's Generals." It will feature the following presentations:
Terry Golway, editor and author of "Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution."
Richard Strum, director of education, Fort Ticonderoga, and author of "Henry Knox: Washington's Artilleryman."
Gen. Dave Palmer, former superintendent, U.S.Military Academy at West Point, and author of "George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots."
Ken Johnston, manager of character interpretations, Mount Vernon, "An Encounter with Benedict Arnold."
William Fowler, Northwestern University, former director, Massachusetts Historical Society, and author of "Empires at War: The French and Indian War and the Struggle for North America 1754-1763."
Day 2 concentrates on "Establishing a Nation" through presentations on the following topics:
"The Classical Ideal" by Caroline Winterer, Stanford University, author of "The Culture of Classicism: Ancient Greece and Rome in American Intellectual Life, 1780-1910."
"George Washington" by Peter Henriques, George Mason University, author of "Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington."
"Thomas Jefferson" by Frank Cogliano, University of Edinburgh, author of "Thomas Jefferson: Reputation and Legacy."
"Alexander Hamilton" by Joanne Freeman, Yale University, editor of "Alexander Hamilton: Writings."
A panel discussion: Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton
John Jay" by Walter Stahr, author of "John Jay: Founding Father."