Step Inside A Historic Home to Learn George Washington’s Legacy
Come learn about Mount Vernon's vast educator resources, George Washington's consequential life, and his connections to South Carolina and, in particular, the city of Columbia.
In fact, in 1786, our new and centrally-located capital city fell just one vote short of being named in honor of Washington, who would visit five years later on May 22, 1791, during his southern presidential tour.
Registration Requirements
Who can register?
- Teachers MUST teach in a formal K-12 classroom or school setting.
- The program is limited to 40 teachers.
- A waitlist will be available if registration meets full capacity.
Questions? Please contact [email protected]
Schedule
| 8 a.m. | Welcome, Introductions, and Overview of the Day's Agenda |
| 8:30 a.m. | George Washington’s Southern Tour: A Legacy of Revolutionary Leadership Dr. Zoie Horecny |
| 9:30 a.m. | Washington's Evolving Views of Enslavement as Planter, General, and President Dr. Timothy E. Hicks Mapping Columbia Activity Carmen Sangster and Beth Johnson |
| 10:30 a.m. | Washington's Evolving Views of Enslavement as Planter, General, and President Dr. Timothy E. Hicks |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch |
| 12:15 a.m. | Using Mount Vernon Resources to Teach using Sources and Place Dr. Timothy E. Hicks |
| 1 p.m. | Tours of the Robert Mills and Hampton-Preston Homes Preston Homes |
| 1:45 p.m. | The American Revolution in South Carolina Dr. Zoie Horecny |
| 3 p.m. | Tours of the Robert Mills and Hampton Preston Homes |
| 3:45 p.m. | Closing Thoughts |
Meet the Guest Speaker
Dr. Zoie Horecny
Zoie Horecny is the Digital Washington Papers Editor at the Center for Digital History (CDH) at The George Washington Presidential Library. At the CDH, she works on projects related to the Washington Papers corpus such as Washington Day by Day and The Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington. Prior to joining the CDH, she contributed to the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition and The Papers of the Revolutionary Era Pinckney Statesman Digital Edition. She earned her MA in Public History and PhD in Early American History at the University of South Carolina. Her scholarly work is on slavery in the Early Republic with a transatlantic focus, and this work has been published in Journal of the South Carolina Historical Association and Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation. Zoie has spent many years in and adjacent to the classroom! Some of her past roles include five years as an Instructor at the University of South Carolina, three years as a long-term elementary school substitute, spending summers at the AP grade, and creating tours for school groups at the South Carolina State Museum as a docent.
Meet the Educators
Dr. Timothy E. Hicks
Dr. Timothy E. Hicks is a graduate of Furman University (BA in History) and the University of South Carolina (MAT in History; Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction). Nationally-board certified in Early Adolescence/Social Studies-History (2002-2022), he has taught at Dent Middle School in Columbia since 1994. Currently, he is teaching eighth grade South Carolina and United States history in The Learning Collaborative, the district’s oldest middle school academic magnet program. A mock trial coach for 25 years, a teacher and judge in National History Day, a school department leader, an intern and new teacher mentor, a Master Teacher at the 2023 White House History Teacher Institute, and a George Washington Teacher Institute 250 Ambassador, Dr. Hicks has presented 90 times at the district, state, and national levels. He is a primary author of The South Carolina Journey, a textbook used in most districts across the state, as well as curriculum available at the South Carolina Department of Education.
He has been honored with state awards by Gilder Lehrman, the Society of the Cincinnati of South Carolina, Daughters of the American Revolution, South Carolina Council for the Social Studies, and the South Carolina Bar. He was named the 2020 National American History Teacher of the Year by the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars. Currently, Dr. Hicks serves as the President of the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies, the state's largest professional organization for history teachers.
Carmen Sangster
Carmen Sangster is the education manager at Historic Columbia, where she oversees the development of engaging educational programs and resources that connect museum content with classroom learning. During her tenure, the Education team has revitalized the museum’s education programming, expanding offerings for teachers, and aligning them with state social studies standards to better support instructional needs. She is dedicated to creating meaningful, accessible learning experiences that inspire curiosity and deepen understanding of Columbia’s history. When she is not working, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and traveling.
Beth Johnson
Beth Johnson is the education assistant at Historic Columbia, where she develops and presents traveling trunks in schools throughout the state. She earned her Master of Teaching degree at the University of South Carolina and came to Historic Columbia after retiring from her classroom teacher position in Richland School District Two. Her focus on building relationships in schools and in the community has supported the expansion of its programming inside and outside the classroom. When she is not working, she enjoys quilting and being outdoors with her dogs and husband Dylan.
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