(Richmond, Va.) The Virginia War Memorial is offering two professional development opportunities for Virginia educators during June and July this year.

These 2024 Summer Teacher Institutes are free and open to all educators from throughout the Commonwealth and are tailored to those teaching middle and high school students. Both Teacher Institutes are held at the Memorial in downtown Richmond and include lunch, materials, and resources plus free parking onsite. Participants may be eligible to receive recertification points for attending.

Space is limited and pre-registration to participate in either or both of the Summer Teacher Institutes is required. For more information and to register to attend, please go to https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/schoolteachers/professionaldevelopment/

Presenters for the seminars include Virginia War Memorial Director of Education James Triesler, Virginia War Memorial Archivist Sylvia Marshall, Major General Mari K. Eder (U.S. Army, Retired), the author of The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line, and the staff of the National D-Day Memorial. Topics, dates and times for the Summer Teacher Institutes are:

  • Topic: Connecting Students to History: A Workshop on Research, Writing and Photography
    • Date: Tuesday, June 18 (One Day)
    • Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Topic: Normandy and Beyond: The Fight for Freedom
    • Dates: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 16, 17 and 18 (Three Days)
    • Times: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday)
    • 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Wednesday) for chartered bus trip from Virginia War Memorial to National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia and return to Richmond.

“We invite all Virginia educators, especially those who teach history and social studies, to join us for these exciting and informative Summer Teacher Institute sessions. Education is one of the primary missions of the Virginia War Memorial and educating those who teach our young people is one of the best ways we can fulfill this mission,” said Memorial Education Director James Triesler. “I encourage teachers to join us and register to attend either or both of these free seminars today.”