Missy Bryan, a sixth grade teacher at Maddox Intermediate School, had an exciting and educational summer trip to Washington, DC. Bryan embarked on a six-day journey to the nation’s capital, where she gained valuable information and experiences to bring back to her classroom.
Bryan and 19 other educators from across the United States were chosen from a selection process to spend a week at the Catherine B. Reynolds’s
Foundation Teacher Institute, Civil War Washington, based out of the Ford’s Theatre. Bryan shared her experience Monday during the Jasper City School Board meeting.
“I had the invaluable opportunity to spend a week at the Civil War Washington professional development program based out of Ford’s Theater,” Bryan said. “Learning more about Lincoln’s life and his family, D.C. during the Civil War, and discovering the stories of the lives of various people within historic buildings was such a springboard for future learning for myself, my colleagues in Jasper City Schools, and my students.”
The first stop on Bryan’s trip was a museum in Georgetown called the Tutor Place. This historic house and garden focused on teaching about buildings and the people who resided in them. Bryan and her group learned about the inhabitants of the house during the Civil War, including General Grant and his family.
One highlight of the trip was a night monument tour led by Ranger Jen.
“I was impressed by the knowledge and dedication of the park rangers, and many of them are often educators themselves,” Bryan said Monday. “It gave me an idea for a retirement plan.”
The second day of the trip began at Peterson House, located across from Ford’s Theatre. This boarding house was where President Lincoln was taken after being assassinated and ultimately passed away.
“We had the opportunity to explore the house and learn about the events surrounding Lincoln’s death. Historians painted a vivid picture of the emotions and atmosphere of that fateful night,” Bryan said.
Bryan and her group also visited Ford’s Theatre itself, where they saw a play called “One Destiny” that depicted the day of Lincoln’s assassination.
The following morning, Bryan found herself back on the Washington Mall with Ranger Jen and the historians from Ford’s Theatre. Due to a change in plans, the group visited the Smithsonian American History Museum instead of the Frederick Douglas home. Bryan and her group were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected visit and were guided through the museum, focusing on items related to President Lincoln and the Civil War.
The highlight of the museum visit was a special experience in a secure room, Bryan said. The curator of the Smithsonian History Museum showcased real items related to Lincoln and Civil War Washington. This included the glass cup Lincoln drank from before his assassination, hoods worn by the conspirators during their trial and Lincoln’s pocket watch with hidden messages. The emotional impact of seeing these artifacts left a lasting impression on Bryan and the historians from Ford’s Theatre.
The last day and a half of Bryan’s trip were spent at Lincoln’s Cottage, a place she had never heard of before. This was where the Lincoln family spent a significant portion of his presidency and mourned the death of their son, Willie. Bryan had the opportunity to explore the cottage, including the room where Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. The importance of ideas was emphasized by the cottage’s curator, who read a children’s book to the group.
Bryan’s trip concluded with an activity focused on the power of words and word choice, particularly in the context of teaching about the Civil War and slavery.
“This served as a reminder of the importance of using proper language and terminology in the classroom,” she said.
Overall, Bryan said her trip to Washington, DC, was a transformative experience. She had the opportunity to learn from park rangers, historians and educators from across the country.
“The experts we met, the strategic lessons we actively participated in, and the teaching strategies introduced were exceptional,” she said. “The 19 other educators from around the country and the historians I spent my week with impacted me in ways I will treasure forever. From the traveling snafus that started my journey and the experiences we had over the course of the week, I truly meet some amazing people that will be dear friends forever. I am thankful that I will never be the same.”
