Name: Shaping the Presidency
Start: 2026-08-10T09:00:00-0400
End: 2026-08-10T15:00:00-0400
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Practical Strategies for Engaging History Instruction

Sessions will focus on:

Using primary and secondary sources to develop historical thinking skills.
Integrating literacy strategies into social studies instruction to strengthen writing and critical thinking skills.
Exploring engaging classroom resources and inquiry-based lessons centered on George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, the founding era, and the enduring principles of American democracy.
Connecting historical content to civic learning and student engagement.
Through authentic, collaborative historical discussions and presentations, teachers will gain practical tools to help students become stronger historians and more informed citizens.

Schedule

9 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions
9:30 a.m.	Lincoln & the Founding Dr. Jacob K. Friefeld
10:30 a.m.	Break
10:40 a.m.	Tour of Lincoln's Home Susan Haake
12 p.m.	Lunch On Your Own
1 p.m.	Washington & the Founding Angela Hall
2 p.m.	Mount Vernon Resources for Teachers Teaching Sourcing Ideas Angela Hall & Jessica Cyders
2:50 p.m.	That's a Wrap!

Registration Requirements

Who can register?

Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
The workshop is limited to 20 teachers.
A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Meet the Scholar

Dr. Jacob K. Friefeld

Dr. Jacob K. Friefeld is the Director of the Center for Lincoln Studies. He came to the Center from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and his research has focused on Abraham Lincoln's western legacy. His recent book, The First Migrants: How Black Homesteaders’ Quest for Land and Freedom Heralded America’s Great Migration, tells the epic story of Black Americans homesteading in the Great Plains after the Civil War.

The First Migrants was a finalist for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History book award and winner of the Nebraska Book Award for History. His first book, Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History, examines the Homestead Act of 1862, one of the most important social policies ever enacted in the United States.

When not busy helping everyone see themselves reflected in Lincoln's legacy, Friefeld most enjoys spending a summer day at Wrigley Field.

Meet the Educators

Angela Hall

Angela Welch Hall is a dedicated educator with over three decades of experience teaching 8th-grade social studies at Athens Middle School in Athens, Ohio, where she remains committed to fostering academic excellence, historical inquiry, and civic engagement.

She holds both a BA and a Master’s degree in Education from Ohio University. Angela collaborates with the Southeastern Ohio History Center and local historians to incorporate place-based learning and historical sourcing into her curriculum. Her innovative work led her to present at history conferences across the country. Outside the classroom, Angela founded and advises the Andrew Jackson Davison History club, where she guides students in exploring and celebrating local history while understanding regional identity.

She also served as the cheerleading coach (32 years), student council advisor (32 years), and coordinator of the annual 8th-grade trip to Washington, D.C. (28 years). In recognition of her enduring contributions to education and the community, Angela received the Beacon of Light Award from the Mount Zion Preservation Society and was recently nominated for Athens Woman of the Year.

Andrea Plis

Andrea Plis is an English Language Arts teacher with 12 years of experience teaching middle and high school. Throughout her career, she has used literature to help students explore the past, understand the present, and consider possible futures.

She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Teacher Education at Ohio University, where she focuses on structured literacy practices and content-area integration.