Meet the 2023 Teacher Fellows

The Life Guard Teacher Fellowship Program supports the creation of classroom materials and teacher resources about the life, legacy, and leadership of George Washington.

There were two different fellowships in the summer of 2023. The first fellowship focused on Women in Washington's World, and the second fellowship focused on Washington at War. Both fellowships used primary sources at Mount Vernon and successfully completed infographics and scaffolded activity sheets for students and teachers to utilize in the classroom.

Trevor Bliss

Trevor Bliss teaches at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, where he splits his time as a U.S. History and Civics teacher, Social Studies Department Head, and Gifted Curriculum Specialist. He earned a B.A. in Secondary Education Social Sciences at Flagler College, an M.A. in Gifted Education from the University of South Florida, and holds certifications in Social Studies, Mathematics, English, Science, and Gifted Education. 

 He started and heads the urban rooftop garden program that produces organic, fresh vegetables for families in the school community utilizing cutting edge engineered hydroponic and automatic watering systems.  

Trevor completed his fellowship in 2023, under the War in Washington’s World Fellowship. His project, created alongside Shawnel Padilla, can be found here.

Shawnel Padilla

Shawnel Padilla is Mi’gmaq First Nations and currently serves as an elementary school librarian in Alaska. She earned a library certification from Montana State University with a primary focus on Indigenous Perspectives in School Librarianship. Shawnel earned a B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Education from the University of Alaska.

 Combining her expertise as a librarian, an elementary teacher, and an aspiring historian, Shawnel works to create engaging lessons for all her students. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and is active in several groups to promote increased awareness of issues facing the Indigenous communities today. 

Shawnel completed her fellowship in 2023, under the War in Washington’s World Fellowship. Her project, created alongside Trevor Bliss, can be found here.

Kate Van Haren

Kate Van Haren teaches fourth and fifth-grade Social Studies and Literacy in a rural school district in central Wisconsin. She is working on earning her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State University and believes that all students have the capability to be storytellers and recorders of their own histories. She also believes that technology opens up a world of possibilities for students to share and learn. Kate has published articles in several journals, served on committees, and presented across the country advocating for elementary social studies.

 Kate completed her fellowship in 2023, under the Women in the 18th Century Fellowship. Her project, created alongside Pam Stafford, can be found here.

Pam Stafford

Pam Stafford teaches AP/Dual Credit U.S. History and U.S. Women’s History at William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri. Stafford has a B.A. in History & M.Ed. from Park University-Missouri, as well as a M.A. in American History and Government from Ashland University-Ohio.  She has participated in multiple teacher workshops & seminars throughout the country. 

In addition, Pam volunteers for the National World War I Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.  She has also created lessons for Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and was one of a select group of educational ambassadors to attend the 75th Anniversary of Desegregation Symposium in Washington D.C. Stafford currently serves as Department Chair of Social Studies at William Chrisman and on the Missouri Council for Social Studies (MCSS). 

Pam completed her fellowship in 2023, under the Women in the 18th Century Fellowship. Her project, created alongside Kate Van Haren, can be found here.