Join Us for the America 250 NC Educator Convening

Revolutionary Voices: Exploring Freedom and Legacy in North Carolina

Program Dates:

• Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 (Virtual)

• Friday, November 7th - Saturday, November 8th, 2025 (Raleigh)

• Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 (Virtual)

Participants will Receive:

• $250 Stipend

• 1.5 CEUs

Event Overview

The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, offering an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s past, commemorate the contributions and struggles of individuals throughout history, and consider the ongoing work democracy requires of us all. As part of the America 250 NC initiative, organized by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, fifty 4th - 12th grade teachers will be selected to participate in a unique statewide convening hosted by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), the National Humanities Center, and PBS NC.

Throughout three engagements (two virtual and one two-day convening in downtown Raleigh), participating educators will explore North Carolina’s rich history, our state’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding, and the various ways North Carolinians throughout history have engaged with one of our nation’s most valued ideals: freedom. With a focus on lesser-known local and state histories of resistance and resilience, we’ll broaden our understanding of North Carolina's past and present while exploring innovative teaching strategies and classroom resources - including the State Archives of North Carolina’s new DocsBox curriculum and the soon-to-be-released (Nov. 16) The American Revolution, a new docuseries by Ken Burns.

This three-part engagement and community of practice includes:

1. Wed. Sept. 24, 2025 (5:30 - 7:00 PM - Virtual): In this virtual kick-off, you will meet the 50 amazing 4th - 12th grade educators who will become a source of inspiration and support for you throughout this engagement and beyond. We will provide an overview of the America 250 NC initiative and introduce your host organizations (NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), PBS NC, and National Humanities Center) and the wealth of quality resources they offer. You will also learn about the exciting new “DocsBox” curriculum, created by DNCR’s State Archives of North Carolina.
   • A “DocsBox” of your choice will be provided to you during our in-person convening in November. Each “DocsBox” contains ten or more primary source sets, complete with lesson plans and activities. Two options are available for middle and high school during the America 250 NC commemoration: the State Constitution, which includes the 1776, 1868, and 1971 constitutions and significant amendments; and Revolutionary NC, exploring a variety of compelling stories. A Revolutionary NC elementary version is also available with materials designed for grades 3-5.
2. Fri. Nov. 7 (5 PM - 9 PM) and Sat. Nov. 8 (9 AM - 5 PM) - In Person
   This in-person convening will bring our group together  in beautiful downtown Raleigh and will include engaging plenary sessions to provide historical context, breakout workshops on teaching strategies, networking opportunities to connect with other teachers and presenters (to further the formation of a lasting community of practice), as well as private experiences at some of DNCR’s most beloved historical sites in downtown Raleigh. Highlights include:
   • Welcome Dinner & Private Performance of “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom” at the NC State Capitol
   • Thematic Lectures and Discussions: Engage with historians and scholars, while sharing your own expertise, as we delve into North Carolina history, focusing on themes such as freedom, hidden histories, foundations of democracy, and more. Explore how these themes have evolved over the past 250 years and their relevance today.
   • Interactive Breakouts for Classroom Ideas & Teaching Strategies: Interactive sessions (broken into grade levels) will explore living history.
   • Collaborative Networking: Connect with fellow educators from across the state, sharing ideas and building a supportive community committed to enriching classrooms across the state.
   • Participants will receive:
     • A stipend installment of $150 post-attendance. (*This stipend assumes participation in both the Sept. 24 virtual kick-off and both days of the in-person convening.)
     • Hotel accommodations for the evening of Nov. 7 (for those traveling more than 120 miles roundtrip,). NOTE: If a teacher is traveling more than 5 hours one-way, they can also request an additional hotel for Sat. Nov. 8 after the event if desired.
     • Meals, including dinner on Nov. 6, breakfast and lunch on Nov. 7.
3. Tues. Jan. 14 (5:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Virtual): In a culminating virtual session we’ll reconvene to reflect on the insights, connections, and classroom strategies gained thus far. Educators will exchange ideas for continued collaboration, professional growth, and contributions to the broader America 250 NC initiative, occurring throughout 2026 and beyond.
   • Participants will receive:
     • A second stipend installment of $100 (post-attendance and upon submitting a short written reflection)

This convening and the community of practice it forms will provide educators with the knowledge and skills to utilize America 250 NC as an opportunity to integrate comprehensive and inclusive histories of North Carolina and the United States into their courses, while leaving them better equipped to inspire students to understand and engage with the ideals of freedom and democracy that have shaped our nation.

Registration Details

• Space is limited to 50 K-12 educators. Applicants should be currently employed in a school and teaching or supporting grades 4th - 12th.
• Attendance on all three dates (Sept. 24 - virtual; Nov. 7-8 in person; Jan. 14 - virtual) is required for registration and to receive the $250 stipend.
• Filling out this application does not guarantee your registration.
• Participants will be registered based on application responses; order of application receipt; and a combination of ensuring we have a diversity of schools/counties, grade levels, and subject-areas represented.
• You should receive a response to your application no later than September 16. Please hold the workshop dates until that point.
• Accepted applicants will be asked to do approximately 2-hours of pre-reading prior to the November 7-8 event.

Apply Here Before Sept. 7, 2025
 

You should receive a response to your application no later than September 16. Please hold the workshop dates until that point.

Funding for this event is provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and PBS LearningMedia.

This event is a collaboration between the National Humanities Center, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the State Archives of North Carolina, and PBS NC, with location support from St. Mary’s School.
 

AGENDA

Friday, Nov. 7

• 3:00 - 4:00 - OPTIONAL (but highly recommended!): Tour of NC Freedom Park    
  Khadija McNair | NC Freedom Park Manager
  NC Freedom Park, managed by DNCR, is a 1-acre green space created 
  to honor the "unyielding spirit of the African American struggle for freedom.” It is located at 218 North Wilmington Street, one mile from the Residence Inn. After arriving and parking at the Residence Inn, participants can either meet in the lobby at 2:50 PM for a van ride over to NC Freedom Park, or walk the mile and meet us at the park.
• 4:00 - 5:00 - Hotel Check In | Residence Inn Downtown Raleigh
• 5:00 - Welcome Dinner, Introductions & Two Day Framing | Residence Inn, Downtown Raleigh
• 7:30 - 9:00 - Ongoing Fight for Freedom Performance at NC Historic Capitol

Saturday, Nov. 8

St. Mary’s School | 900 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27603

• 8:30 - Arrival & Coffee | Breakfast buffet provided at hotel
• 9:00 - Morning Welcome
• 9:15 - Plenary 1: Parallel Struggles of Freedom During the American Revolution
  Dr. Antwain Hunter | Assistant Professor, UNC-CH
  While the common narrative of the American Revolution is that of thirteen American colonies fighting back against oppressive British rule, the stories of “Free People of Color” and enslaved people can add depth and complexity to our historical understanding. Whether on the battlefield, in the courtroom, or via their pens, Black Americans have pushed for expanded personal or legal freedoms, and despite an array of challenges, their efforts helped to shape the Revolutionary Era.
• 10:15 - Small Group Reflections and Q & A
• 10:45 - Break
• 11:00 - Plenary II: Fighting for Native America: Indigenous Communities, Culture and Change in North Carolina
  Nancy Strickland Chavis | Director/Curator of Museum of the Southeast American Indian
  During the 1700s, indigenous people across North Carolina navigated a rapidly shifting landscape of colonial expansion, warfare, and political alliances. Native communities faced complex and often difficult choices as they sought to protect their people, lands, and sovereignty before, during and after the Revolutionary Era. In this session, we’ll examine the historical context of these decisions, the long-term impacts on tribal life across North Carolina, and how these stories can be more fully integrated into classroom narratives about the American Revolution.
• Noon - Small Group Reflections and Q & A
• 12:30 - Lunch and Resource Exploration
  Enjoy lunch and fellowship with your colleagues, while also taking time to visit the resource tables available, which represent various organizations that can assist you in your critical work in the classroom. Tables include:
  • Blackwater Swamp InterTribal Foundation
  • America 250 NC
  • NC African American Heritage Commission
  • NC American Indian Heritage Commission
  • PBS North Carolina
• 1:30 - Workshop I
  • Group A: Revolutionary Voices: Resources from PBS NC for Exploring Freedom and Legacy in North Carolina
    Join PBS North Carolina to learn about resources and strategies for integrating untold and local stories of the American Revolution in your classroom.
  • Group B: NC Primary Source Sets for the Classroom
    Dive into materials from the State Archives to teach inclusive Revolutionary stories of Patriots, Loyalists, Black soldiers, Indigenous communities, and women across the state. State Constitution and significant amendments help students understand changes in political participation over time. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, how can we ensure that every student sees themselves in the history we teach? This session invites educators to explore strategies and new NC-focused resources for integrating America 250 NC into their classrooms and engage all students.
• 2:15 - Break
• 2:30 - Workshop II
  • Group A: NC Primary Source Sets for the Classroom
  • Group B: Revolutionary Voices: Resources from PBS NC for Exploring Freedom and Legacy in North Carolina
• 3:15 - Break
• 3:30 - Panel Discussion: Reflections on Freedom at 250 Years
  In a culminating panel, we will reflect on the evolving meaning of freedom in America—from the Revolutionary Era to the present day. Considering the tapestry of people and cultures that have contributed to America throughout history, we will explore how different communities have fought for, defined, and redefined freedom over the past 250 years.
• 4:30 - Closing & Reflections
• 5:00 - Adjourn 
  
  We look forward to seeing you on Wed. Jan. 14 for our final virtual convening (5:30 PM - 7:30 PM.)