Name: Perseverance Through Primary Sources: Teaching Washington’s World through Stories & Source Analysis
Start: 2026-10-27T08:30:00-0400
End: 2026-10-28T16:00:00-0400
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Schedule

Day 1

8:45 a.m.	Check-in
9 a.m.	Introduction Lisa Oakley and Maddie Sisson
9:20 a.m.	Why GW Matters Maddie Sisson
10:30 a.m.	Break
11 a.m.	Gallery Work/Exhibit Exploration
12:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:30 p.m.	Teaching with Primary Sources Maddie Sisson
2:45 p.m.	Break
3 p.m.	How Will You Use This in Your Classroom Rachel Tinker
3:45 p.m.	Closing Thoughts and Tomorrow

Day 2

8:45 a.m.	Check-in
9 a.m.	Introduction Maddie Sisson
9:15 a.m.	Washington, Blount, & Tennessee
10:15 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m.	Blount Mansion Tour
12 p.m.	Lunch
1 p.m.	Teaching Slavery in the Classroom Maddie Sisson and Lisa Oakley
2:30 p.m.	Break
2:45 p.m.	How Will You Use This in Your Classroom Rachel Tinker, Lisa Oakley, and Maddie Sisson
3:45 p.m.	Final Thoughts and Next Steps Maddie Sisson and Lisa Oakley

*Lunch is provided

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

Meet the Educators

Maddie Sisson

Maddie Sisson is a museum educator with a passion for making history accessible for everyone. She received a Joint Bachelor’s Degree in History from William & Mary and the University of St. Andrews, and her Master's in Teaching in Museum Education from George Washington University. She served as Mount Vernon’s Lead Specialist for Family Learning from June 2023 to July 2025, when she became the Manager of Teacher Learning. She has previously worked at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Office of Historic Alexandria, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. When not at work, she can be found planning trips, exploring a new museum, or curled up with a book and her cat, Minerva.

Lisa Oakley

Lisa Oakley has a passion and deep interest in our nation’s history, particularly Tennessee’s role in the story. Lisa studied history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and received the M.A. in History with an Emphasis in Historic Preservation (Public History) from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Through her 35+ years of experience as Curator of Education with the East Tennessee Historical Society, Lisa has learned the art, craft, and skills of the historian while dedicating her career to teaching students, teachers, and the general public through engaging museum and community programs, outreach experiences, special events, and service.