Name: George Washington and the West (Des Moines, Iowa)
Start: 2026-06-12T08:00:00-0400
End: 2026-06-12T16:00:00-0400
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Gain practical strategies for engaging 21st‑century students with George Washington and the broader 18th‑century world

Learn from visiting experts, including Iowa’s Teacher of the Year Melanie Bloom, George Washington Teacher Institute Regional Ambassador Katy Forsythe, and historical scholars. Educators will engage directly with Revolutionary War–era objects from the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s collection, including materials connected to George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and Anthony Wayne. The workshop emphasizes best‑practice, student‑centered pedagogies and invites participants to explore topics that matter most to them—such as civics, leadership, and STEAM—within the theme of George Washington and the West. All participants will receive a copy of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, classroom resources, and up to $50 in mileage reimbursement ($0.40 per mile), while collaborating with dynamic educators from across the state.

Schedule

7:30 a.m.	Check-in Doors open at 7:30 AM. Coffee and tea are available in the Goldfinch Classroom on the main floor.
8 a.m.	Welcome, Introductions, & Overview Get to know your fellow participants through an interactive primary source activity.
8:30 a.m.	Session I - Learn about the life and times of George Washington from the author of "You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington." Alexis Coe
9:45 a.m.	Session II - History Mystery with the Museum Team Investigate artifacts from the Revolutionary War era and learn to contextualize them.
11:30 a.m.	Lunch*
12:15 p.m.	Session III - Teaching with Primary Sources Engage in best-practice instructional strategies for textual analysis. Katy Forsythe
1:30 p.m.	Break
1:45 p.m.	Session IV - Land Surveying Participate in an interactive land surveying activity to bring back to your classroom. Melanie Bloom
3 p.m.	Session V - Museum Exhibits Explore the exhibits at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
3:30 p.m.	Curriculum Artifact & Debrief Choose an artifact to spark sustained inquiry in your classroom.

*Lunch is provided and includes salad, lasagna, bread, brownies, and refreshments. There is a refrigerator and microwave on site if you’d like to bring your own lunch.

Registration Requirements

Who can register?

Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
The workshop is limited to 30 teachers.
A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Meet the Speakers

Alexis Coe

Alexis Coe is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling presidential historian and senior fellow at New America, a bi-partisan think tank. In July 2025, Coe became the American History Columnist at the New York Times. She is the leading presidential biographer of her generation, known for unique insights, engaging style, rigorous scholarship, and ability to reach larger diverse audiences in different mediums. She's the author of, most recently, You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George of Washington. Her next book,Young Jack: A Biography of John F. Kennedy, 1917-1957, will be published in 2026, and her first book, Alice+Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis, debuted in 2014. Coe frequently appears on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, History, PBS, and other networks. She was a consulting producer on, and featured in, Doris Kearns Goodwin's Washington series on the History Channel. She has been featured in and written for most major publications, including the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Best American Essays.

Melanie Bloom

Melanie Bloom, the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year, has 16 years of experience as a secondary Career and Technical Educator and several years of experience as a curriculum developer as well, focusing on student-centered inquiry methods. She enjoys providing opportunities for students to explore careers and participate in the agriculture industry. Bloom holds B.S. degrees in Agricultural Education and Animal Science and an M.S. degree in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University; she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Agricultural Education and Leadership Development through the University of Missouri - Columbia, focused on curricular development and implementation. Hailing from five generations of Northwest Iowa farm families, Bloom draws content knowledge from her experiences in agriculture with husband, Stephen, and three daughters.

Meet the Educators

Rachel Hanson

Rachel Hanson is the K-12 Education Coordinator at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Prior to her current role, she taught 7-12 social studies in public schools in Iowa for 15 years. In 2021, she was recognized by NCGE with an AP Human Geography Distinguished Teaching Award. Rachel is passionate about designing learning experiences that compel students to engage in meaningful, authentic projects within their communities. Her National Geographic-funded grant work focuses on storytelling through podcasts, maps, and heritage education. As a veteran educator with a propensity for curiosity, she has a vested interest in connecting Iowans of all ages with the vibrant histories of the places where they live, work, and play.

Katy Forsythe

Katy Forsythe is a high school social studies teacher at Dallas Center-Grimes High School in Grimes, Iowa, and a GWTI250 Ambassador at George Washington's Mount Vernon. As part of the Leadership and Legacy of George Washington Fellowship at Mount Vernon, Katy created an infographic and activity sheets scaffolded to elementary, middle, and high school students. As a James Madison Fellow, she spent a month with fellows from almost every state studying the American Founding and Constitution through Georgetown University and the James Madison Foundation. With the support of JMF, Katy is finishing her Master of Arts in American History and Government through Ashland University.