Teacher Fellowship Program
The Life Guard Teacher Fellowship Program is a three week onsite, immersive professional development experience designed to invite current educators to create classroom materials that will enhance and expand the teaching of George Washington, his legacies, and the founding era alongside the Education team.
Summer 2025 Fellowship
Applications for the 2025 Teacher Fellowship Program will open in November.
In 2025, teacher fellows will be selected to collaborate with each other, the Mount Vernon K-12 team, and Washington Library staff, to design inclusive, inquiry-based education resources for use in K-12 classrooms nationwide.
The designed resources will include:
- Student led inquiries into Mount Vernon digital museum and library collections
- Scaffolding for multiple grade levels and differentiated learning styles
- Alignment with current classroom needs and conversations today
- Connections to George Washington's biography, leadership, and legacies
There are two different fellowships that applicants can apply and be selected for. All applicants must be able to attend their entire preferred fellowship in order to be considered.
The Economy of a New Nation Teacher Fellowship
Leadership and Legacy Teacher Fellowship
Dates: June 8-28 2025
The Economy Teacher Fellows will explore and create resources on the economic enterprises of George Washington. The created resources will explore agriculture, inventions, and enslavement at Mount Vernon, and will provide tools for teachers and students to learn more about STEAM and the colonial economy.
Dates: July 6-26, 2025
The Leadership Teacher Fellows will explore and create resources on the life, leadership, and complex legacies of George Washington. The created resources will examine Washington's leadership roles, inspire others to lead, and provide tools for teachers and students to take action in their own communities.
Applicants can apply for both fellowships, but will only be admitted to one fellowship if they are selected
Teacher Fellowship Sample Schedule
The columns below show what each week looks like during a Teacher Fellowship. Please know that these schedules are mostly accurate but are subject to change. Fellowships last for three weeks and are located at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
Week One
Participate in the corresponding Summer Residential Program and obtain initial ideas and information for classroom resources.
Explore the corresponding Summer Residential Programs to each Fellowship:
Week Two
Meet with museum and academic experts about Washington’s world. Explore historic documents, artifacts, and places to learn more about George Washington and his legacies.
Week Three
Develop a classroom resource from the information obtained. Work with the Classroom Resource Specialist and the K12 team to create, edit, and finalize the resource for teachers and students to use.
Fellowship Award Information
All fellows will be awarded a $3000 honorarium and round-trip travel to and from Mount Vernon.
Housing onsite will be provided.
All meals and incidentals will be the responsibility of the fellow.
Who Can Apply?
The George Washington Teacher Institute cares deeply about equity, inclusivity, and diversity. Our Institute is committed to cultivating a unique learning environment where all individuals may succeed professionally and personally. We seek and welcome applications from educators of varying backgrounds and experiences to explore the history and ideals that make us all different, and inspires diverse interpretations of George Washington and the world he lived in.
Qualified applicants include anyone who is currently serving as a:
- Classroom teacher (grades K-12)
- Education Administrator
- Curriculum, resources, or media specialist
The review committee will be looking to develop a collaborative team of fellows including but not limited to:
- Elementary school educators
- Middle school educators
- High school educators
- English language educators
- Special education educators
- Specialists with experience creating district-level educational resources.
Educators must anticipate teaching or working directly with classroom teachers in the following school year. .
Why Should I Apply?
- Experience unparalleled access to George Washington's Mount Vernon staff, sites, and collections, and even stay in our scholars' residence.
- Learn from place, and museum and academic experts about George Washington’s life and lessons in leadership.
- Collaborate with a partner or small group of dynamic educators to devise new ways to bring the diversity of the 18th-century and George Washington's biography, leadership, and complex legacies to life in classrooms across the country.
What's the Application Process?
Below are the basic required components of the 2025 Teacher Fellowship Application.
Application Questions
Basic Application Questions: Respond to questions about yourself and your school
Short Answer Questions: Respond to the following questions that will support your candidacy as a Fellow.
- How do you use primary sources, historical thinking skills, and/or inclusive narratives in your classroom, and how does this impact your students?
- What teaching methodologies do you use to design differentiated, inquiry-based learning opportunities for students?
- What is your experience(s) working with others in your professional learning communities to create educational resources or curriculum projects, and how would this experience(s) positively impact the fellowship?
- (Optional): What gets students excited in your classroom? What would be helpful for us to know in understanding your students, school, and teaching style?
Attachments
Resume (or Curriculum Vitae): Upload a resume which includes relevant education/professional development, leadership roles held, collaborative team work, and resource or curriculum development experiences.
Best Practice Sample: Provide up to two samples of an educational resource you have created that addresses your qualifications as a fellow.
Letters of Recommendation
Recommenders: Names and contact information of two recommenders who can address your skills and experiences as an educator and indicate support for your participation as a Teacher Fellow at Mount Vernon.
Facilities
George Washington's Mount Vernon By working on George Washington’s estate, fellows will enjoy the opportunity to connect and collaborate with Mount Vernon’s onsite experts.
The George Washington Presidential Library Fellows will enjoy unparalleled access to the extensive resources of the 45,000 square‐foot Washington Library. The Library is designed to house and safeguard original Washington documents and other materials from the founding era, as well as contemporary research tools and resources.
The DeVos House As part of the covered costs, fellows will reside in single rooms within the Richard and Helen DeVos House, a scholars' residence, located just 150 feet west of the Washington Library. Access to a parking, a single bedroom, common area, small kitchen, and Wi-Fi are included.
What Else do I Need to Know?
Accessibility: When considering your accessibility needs, please keep in mind that Mount Vernon is located on 500 acres, include walking on hilly and unpaved terrains, and stairs within onsite housing. Accessibility arrangements can be discussed with the Education Department prior to your participation. Click here for additional information about accessibility at Mount Vernon.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Points (PDPs), or Graduate Credits: We currently do not offer official CEUs, PDPs, or Graduate Credit. Fellows can track the hours spent engaged in fellowship work and request a letter of participation or certificate outlining their contributions.
History of the Fellowships
The Life Guard Fellowship Program was established in 2013 to support the creation of classroom materials and teacher resources about the life, legacy, and leadership of George Washington. The Reese Fellowship Program began in 2017 to support increased student engagement with 18th-century sources by connecting high school students with print and handwritten primary sources.
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