Teach the district

Teach the District is a five-day summer professional development program that brings local history to life and encourages civic engagement through history-informed action. Held annually in July, this paid program is for DC 3rd-12th grade teachers in any discipline.

The Program

An Immersive Program for Educators

Teach the District is an immersive program that gives teachers new skills and perspectives, understandings of the cross-curricular value of local history, and models for engagement with local institutions. Participants also gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to local cultural heritage organizations and take part in hands-on inquiry-based learning activities.

Over the five days, participants connect with collections representatives and museum educators to develop a classroom resource to implement with their students. The resource should incorporate materials and ideas shared during the program and can be used on its own or as inspiration for a student-led, teacher-directed civic engagement project that addresses an issue in your community.

Participants receive a $600 stipend at the completion of the program and deliverables.

A Week of Learning, Discovery, and Connection

Teach the District In Action

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Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Accokeek Foundation staff have guess the plant based on the smell of the leaf she is holding (it was sassafras, which was used to make root beer).

Accokeek Foundation staff have teachers guess the plant based on the smell of the leaf she is holding (it was sassafras, which was used to make root beer). Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Teachers get a behind-the-scenes tour of the DC History Center's collections space.

Teachers get a behind-the-scenes tour of the DC History Center's collections space, July 2025. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Teachers and DC History Center staff listen to a presentation by tribal historian Mario Harley.

Teachers and DC History Center staff listen to a presentation by tribal historian Mario Harley, July 2025. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from the field trip to Piscataway Park, July 2025. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Scene from Teach the District 2026. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Who Should Apply

Teach the District is designed for educators in Washington, DC who work in 3rd-12th grade classes and want to incorporate local history into what they teach.

While most applicants are from humanities classrooms, Teach the District welcomes math, science, and other disciplines, along with social studies, language arts, fine/performing arts, ESL, ELL, SPED, and GT classrooms. We also encourage applications from those who teach as school librarians and media specialists.

Application Details

The Teach the District program is held mid-July each year. Mornings are spent onsite at the DC History Center, and afternoons at locations around the city. A buffet lunch is provided each day.
Applications open in early spring and are reviewed on a rolling basis until the end of May. Best consideration will be given to educators who apply by the end of April.
Maximum enrollment for this program is 20 participants.

Real Voices

Brandon Hill, 2024 cohort

Teacher, 6th grade

Stuart-Hobson Middle
Capitol Hill, Washington DC

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