American Battlefield Trust to Host 2026 Virtual Teacher Institute in July
(Washington, D.C.) — The American Battlefield Trust will host its annual Virtual Teacher Institute from July 20 through 22, 2026, bringing together educators from around the world for three days of professional development, interactive learning and sessions led by leading historians and education experts. Registration is now open for free to active educators and will be held on the Trust’s webinar platform.
“Our Teacher Institutes have become one of our most meaningful annual programs because they connect educators directly with scholarship and resources that bring American history to life in classrooms across the world,” said Trust President David Duncan. “Each year, we aim to make our resources more accessible and engaging for teachers and students.”
Centered on the theme of 250 Years: Liberty’s Triumphs and Challenges, the Virtual Teacher Institute invites educators to a collaborative environment designed to deepen historical understanding and strengthen classroom instruction. Across three days, participants will explore themes in American history through presentations, online coffee conversations, hands-on teaching sessions and subject-focused breakout discussions. This year, keynote presentations include nationally recognized scholars, including presidential historian Alexis Coe with “That First Guy: George Washington,” offering a human portrait of the nation’s first president. Other keynote sessions include “Generals Who Became President: Washington, Grant, Eisenhower,” with Dr. H.W. Brands and “The American Revolution: A Conversation with Filmmaker Sarah Botstein.”
Additional featured breakout topics include “The Meteor of War: John Brown’s Raid,” “Pedagogy and the American Civil War,” “The Declaration’s Journey: Global Perspectives,” “Native Americans in the Age of Revolution,” and “Museum Behind the Scenes: Material Culture of the Civil War,” along with other sessions spanning the American Revolution through the 20th century.
The Virtual Teacher Institute is designed for a broad range of education professionals committed to strengthening history education in and beyond the classroom. Eligible participants include active K-12 educators and administrators, museum professionals, librarians, school IT professionals and more. Participation is free for active educators, and advance registration is required. For more information about future Teacher Institutes – virtual and in-person, visit www.battlefields.org/educators/teacher-institutes.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 62,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
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