White House Historical Association Bolsters Education Initiative with NEW D.C. Declaration of Learning Program and Annual White House History Teacher Institute
Washington, D.C. —
Launching in 2020, the White House Historical Association will serve as the premiere partner for the D.C. Declaration of Learning, a new local education program in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms. In addition, the Association will again host two new groups of educators from across the country as part of its annual White House History Teacher Institute next summer.
The D.C. Declaration of Learning (D.C. DOL)
This immersive teacher professional development experience fosters object-based learning and promotes opportunities for civic engagement within and outside the classroom. The program is exclusive for educators in the D.C. metro area who work in 4th-12th grade social studies, language art, fine / performing arts, gifted and talented, special education, and ESL/ELL classrooms as well as those who teach as school librarians and media specialists.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Diplomatic Reception Rooms to bring this program to the D.C. area and carry on their successes from the pilot in Arkansas. We cannot wait to engage with teachers and share our rich historic collections with area students in new meaningful ways,” said White House Historical Association Director of Education, Whitney Hayne.
D.C. DOL begins with a five-day summer workshop (July 20-24, 2020) in which participants will work to develop innovative unit plans tied to a civic engagement project. Throughout the following school year, teachers will test and refine their plans and execute a civic engagement project with their students. This work culminates with a celebration event for participants the following summer.
To attend, teachers must apply as space is limited. Applications for the program will open online beginning December 1, 2019 and close on January 12, 2020 at 11:59 pm EST. Visit whitehousehistory.org for more information about D.C. DOL and location criteria for interested participants.
White House History Teacher Institute
The 2020 White House History Teacher Institute, held July 6-10 and July 13-17, is a five-day immersive experience that includes exclusive access to classroom resources, historic sites, and lectures from White House historians, all with the goal of enhancing teacher curriculums. The participants are selected from a competitive pool of candidates and represent a mix of elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
Interested teachers must apply online. Online applications are available beginning December 1, 2019 and until February 1, 2020 at 11:59 PM EST. Visit whitehousehistory.org for more information.
For more information or to interview Whitney Hayne, Director of Education at the White House Historical Association, contact press@whha.org.
P.D.F. Resources
Download the PDFAbout the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.