Name: Teaching George Washington Through Character Education and Literacy
Start: 2026-05-29T09:00:00-0400
End: 2026-05-29T17:00:00-0400
Location: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Schedule

9 a.m.	Welcome and Registration
9:15 a.m.	Teaching George Washington through Character Education and Literacy: Part 1
10:30 a.m.	Morning Break
10:45 a.m.	Teaching George Washington through Character Education and Literacy: Part 2
11:20 a.m.	Mid Morning Break
11:30 a.m.	Bringing Living History into the Classroom, Fort Ticonderoga Digitized Manuscript Collection, 1777 Wintersmith Map
12:30 p.m.	Reflection, Evaluation, Participation Certificates
12:45 p.m.	Lunch
1:15 p.m.	Self Guided Grounds Tour
2 p.m.	Cannon Demonstration
3:15 p.m.	Lake Champlain Boat Cruise

Registration Requirements

Who can register?

Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
The program is limited to 30 teachers.
A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.
Participants should be able to attend both dates.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Meet the Speaker

Rich Strum

Rich Strum joined the Fort Ticonderoga leadership staff in the spring of 1999. He currently serves as Director of Academic Programs, overseeing teacher professional development programs, public conferences and seminars, publications program, and fellowship programs like the Edward W. Pell Graduate Fellowship.

He received the New York State Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Council for the Social Studies in 2020.

Meet the Educator

Katie Brownell

Katie Brownell is a twenty-year veteran fourth-grade ELA and Social Studies teacher in an integrated co-teaching classroom at Hoosick Falls Central School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, and a Master's degree in Reading.

She is also a registered yoga teacher who enjoys integrating mindful movement and social-emotional learning in the classroom. She is passionate about engaging elementary students with inquiry, hands-on learning, and place-based lessons.

She believes that with quality instruction, students of all abilities can engage meaningfully with historical content. She serves as the secretary of the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield, is a member of the Hoosick History and Heritage Committee, and manages an 18th-century supply depot for the Living History Education Foundation.

Each summer, she organizes a Living History Summer Institute and a fully immersive 18th-century encampment for upper elementary- and middle-school students at her school.