Event Details
Great American leaders—from George Washington to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and beyond—have been called upon in the most challenging circumstances to use strategy and skill to ensure our nation’s stability.
Educators are invited to join The National WWII Museum in partnership with The George Washington Teacher Institute for Leadership & Legacy: Washington to the Leaders of WWII, a professional development program exploring US leaders in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. Participants will spend time in whole-group sessions, exploring exhibits, and collaborating with other educators.
Lunch, parking, stipends, and curriculum will be provided. Limited spots are available.
Date & Time
January 10, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location
The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70130
Target Audience
K-12 teachers and Librarians
Leadership & Legacy Teacher Professional Development Application Form
For more information on GWTI 250 Regional Teacher Programs, click here.
For more information on the Leadership & Legacy: Washington to the Leaders of WWII professional development program at The National WWII Museum, email teacher.programs@nationalww2museum.org.
About the Guest Speakers
Denver Brunsman, PhD
Denver Brunsman is an associate professor and Chair of the Department of History at George Washington University. He writes and teaches on the politics and social history of the American Revolution, early American republic, and British Atlantic world. His courses include “George Washington and His World,” taught annually at Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Brunsman’s honors include the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize for Teaching Excellence and induction into the George Washington University Academy of Distinguished Teachers, as well as selection to the College Board AP US History Development Committee (2018-23; Higher Ed Chair, 2021-23). He is co-director of the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute at GW and frequently leads K–12 professional development programs for organizations such as Humanities Texas, the George Washington Teacher Institute at Mount Vernon, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. He earned his MA and PhD from Princeton University and his BA from St. Olaf College.
Bradley W. Hart, PhD
Denver Brunsman is an associate professor and Chair of the Department of History at George Washington University. He writes and teaches on the politics and social history of the American Revolution, early American republic, and British Atlantic world. His courses include “George Washington and His World,” taught annually at Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Brunsman’s honors include the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize for Teaching Excellence and induction into the George Washington University Academy of Distinguished Teachers, as well as selection to the College Board AP US History Development Committee (2018-23; Higher Ed Chair, 2021-23). He is co-director of the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute at GW and frequently leads K–12 professional development programs for organizations such as Humanities Texas, the George Washington Teacher Institute at Mount Vernon, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. He earned his MA and PhD from Princeton University and his BA from St. Olaf College.
About the Educators
Debra Demers
Debra Demers joined George Washington's Mount Vernon as the Teacher Learning Coordinator in April 2022. She is a former GWTI alum and always aspired to join the team and live her passion for Washington’s legacy at Mount Vernon. Demers is a retired reading/literacy coach with many years of teaching in both New York and Virginia, including eight years at the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State College. She holds an Ed.M. in reading from the University of Buffalo and a BA in psychology and elementary education from SUNY Potsdam. She brings her love for children's literature and history to The George Washington Teacher Institute, as she connects great books for teaching about the 18th century.
Emily Finch
Emily Finch is a seventh-year social studies teacher with extensive middle and high school experience and currently teaches high school civics and AP Government and Politics. A Mount Vernon Teaching Fellow Alum (2024), Finch has deep expertise in George Washington’s leadership precedents. She leverages her role as a Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) Education Technology TLA—training educators on AI and tech integration—along with her work partnering with various historical organizations to build K–12 virtual historical collection libraries accessible nationwide. Finch’s background ensures this professional development delivers both compelling historical analysis and immediately usable, forward-thinking strategies that are relevant across all grade levels.
Angelle Meltz
Angelle Meltz is the Teacher Outreach Specialist in the Education Department at The National WWII Museum. She manages the Teacher Ambassador program that provides teacher training on behalf of the Museum nationwide, as well as oversees nationwide outreach initiatives to the educator community.
Sarah Wehlage
Sarah Wehlage is the Assistant Director of Teacher Programs in the Education Department at The National WWII Museum. She oversees the programming and resources that the Museum provides to support teachers through professional development training, outreach, and curriculum and instructional resources.
Presenting Sponsor
The George Washington Teacher Institute 250 Workshop is made possible through the generous support of the Boeing Corporation.
