National History Day Introduces Revolutionary Ideals Webinar Series for 114 Educators ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary

COLLEGE PARK, MD – March 30, 2026 – To commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce the educators selected for its new webinar series, Revolutionary Ideals: Understanding 250 Years of American Principles. Developed in partnership with the American Historical Association and funded by a generous grant through the U.S. Department of Education, this series will explore revolutionary ideals and their evolution across U.S. history. 

From April 2026 to March 2027, these educators will participate in online learning modules and will earn either professional development hours or graduate extension credits. Each module will include primary and secondary source readings, one academic task, one pedagogical application, and a live webinar with a leading historian.

“We are excited to launch the Revolutionary Ideals Webinar Series and provide educators with resources to improve the teaching and learning of history,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaching, now is a great time to explore the history of our revolutionary principles and their impact over time.” 

Educators will learn and participate in scheduled presentations throughout the program relating to revolutionary ideals, including: 

• April / May 2026: American Foundational Principles with Dr. Brendan Gillis, Director of Teaching and Learning, American Historical Association. Dr. Gillis will utilize the Declaration of Independence to examine the historical context that shaped a profound articulation of the ideals and principles underlying the American Revolution.
• July / August 2026: Confederation to Constitution with Dr. Christopher Pearl, Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Department, Lycoming College. Dr. Pearl will examine the political turmoil of the 1780s, which highlighted the need for a new federal system. 
• September / October 2026: The Marshall Court with Dr. Kate Brown, Associate Professor of History, Western Kentucky University. Dr. Brown will examine the role of the Marshall Court in defining the implementation of Article III of the U.S. Constitution, highlighting the Supreme Court precedents that established judicial review, enforced the sanctity of contracts, protected interstate commerce, and placed limits on the federal government’s reach.
• November / December 2026: The Reconstruction Amendments with Dr. Justine Hill Edwards, Associate Professor of History, University of Virginia. Dr. Hill Edwards will use the Freedman’s Bank to explore the importance of the Reconstruction Amendments at the intersection of political and economic rights in the mid-to-late nineteenth century.
• January / February 2027: The 26^th Amendment with Dr. Kyle Longley, Director of War, Diplomacy, and Society and a Professor of History, Chapman University. Dr. Longley will explore the origins and consequences of the 26^th Amendment, underscoring the role of youth leaders in petitioning for expanded voting rights and placing the amendment within the context of the Vietnam War era. This program will examine the relationship between military service and the expansion of political, social, and economic freedoms.

NHD celebrates the following educators participating in the Revolutionary Ideals webinar series: 

Ms. Ashley Moreno, Alabama	Ms. Jessica Mehegan, Iowa	Ms. Patricia Robblee, North Carolina
Mrs. Erin Heck, Alabama	Mr. William Headington, Iowa	Ms. Rebecca Simmons, North Carolina
Ms. Erica Burnham, Alaska	Mrs. Amanda Rullman, Kansas	Ms. Valencia Abbott, North Carolina
Dr. Julie Ekeroma-Faalogo, American Samoa	Mr. Jeffrey Schuh, Kansas	Mr. Wesley Young, North Carolina
Mrs. Agnes Silofau, American Samoa	Ms. Maria Arnold, Kansas	Ms. Whitney Cooper, North Carolina
Mrs. Elizabeth Paras, American Samoa	Mr. Travis Lamb, Kansas	Ms. Melissa Evensen, North Dakota
Miss Rhonda Tuia, American Samoa	Mrs. Donna Morris, Kentucky	Ms. Patty Marenger, North Dakota
Mrs. Abby Gibson, Arizona	Ms. Nicole Lucas, Kentucky	Mr. Zach Hochhalter, North Dakota
Ms. Jamie Trent, Arizona	Mr. Terry Lowry, Maine	Mrs. Amanda Cumbey, Oklahoma
Mr. Thomas Garrett, Arizona	Mrs. Emily Kavanagh, Maryland	Mrs. Jennifer Huff, Oklahoma
Ms. Jean Hill, Arkansas	Ms. Krystal Brown, Maryland	Mrs. Jennifer Terry, Oklahoma
Mrs. Jessica Vick, Arkansas	Ms. Ruby Sharma, Maryland	Mrs. Laura Wilson, Oregon
Mrs. Katy Wellborn, Arkansas	Dr. Christopher Beckvold, Massachusetts	Mrs. Amy Palo, Pennsylvania
Mrs. Cady Burnstein, California	Mr. Benjamin DeMott, Massachusetts	Mr. Tim Proskauer, Puerto Rico
Mr. Ryan Sparr, California	Mr. Patrick Rosendale, Massachusetts	Mrs. Jodi Belford, Rhode Island
Ms. Rebecca Taber, Connecticut	Mrs. Chelsea Blair, Michigan	Mr. Austin Olson, South Dakota
Mrs. Cassidy Hebner, Delaware	Mr. Raffi Andonian, Missouri	Mrs. Anghie Potts, Tennessee
Mrs. Jacqueline Torkelson, Delaware	Ms. Lauren Connolly, New Hampshire	Ms. Courtney Beard, Tennessee
Mrs. Tara Creekmore, Delaware	Mrs. Megan Philbrook, New Hampshire	Mrs. Nicole Whitecotton, Tennessee
Mrs. Vanessa Gallaher, Delaware	Mr. Richie Harty, New Hampshire	Ms. Casey Johnston, Texas
Dr. Therese Farmer, Florida	Mrs. Melissa DiPietro, New Jersey	Mrs. Dawn Guzman, Texas
Ms. Amanda Dogu, Florida	Ms. Nicole Wright, New Jersey	Mr. James Richardson, Texas
Mrs. Emily Benedix, Florida	Ms. Stefanie San Filippo, New Jersey	Ms. Kimberly Pena, Texas
Mrs. Meaghan Rose, Florida	Ms. Courtney Smith, New Mexico	Ms. Leslie Cogdell, Texas
Ms. Micaela McNiff, Florida	Mr. Lee Wilson, New Mexico	Mrs. Margaret Brase, Texas
Mrs. Sarah Bryan, Florida	Mrs. Mildred Bitsui, New Mexico	Dr. Wendy Atzet, Utah
Dr. Lisa Babbage, Georgia	Dr. Alice Wolcott, New York	Ms. Aileen Bennett, Utah
Mrs. Beth Smith, Georgia	Mr. Christopher Doyle, New York	Mrs. Cheryl Jindeel, Utah
Ms. Caroline Hugh, Georgia	Mrs. DanaAnn Landesman, New York	Mrs. Jennifer Klein, Utah
Mrs. Mia Lowe, Georgia	Mr. Doug Flitcroft, New York	Mrs. Julia Winslow, Utah
Miss Joanna France Payumo, Guam	Ms. Kristen Waterman, New York	Mrs. Karlee Genther, Utah
Mrs. Nicole Lasko, Hawaii	Mr. Patrick Henderson, New York	Mrs. Christina Barbour, Virginia
Ms. Angela Richards, Idaho	Mrs. Taryn Windheim, New York	Mrs. Emily Danovich, Virginia
Miss Ella Noland, Idaho	Mrs. Amy Bradsher, North Carolina	Mrs. Kelly Rosati, Virginia
Mr. Thomas Pirc, Idaho	Ms. Cheryl Chauncey, North Carolina	Mrs. Laura Channing, Virginia
Ms. Mackenzie Meyers, Indiana	Ms. Courtney McMillon, North Carolina	Ms. Lara Quindeln, Virginia
Mrs. Tiffany Finney, Illinois	Ms. Jacqueline Gronwald, North Carolina	Ms. Morgan Johnson, Virginia
Mrs. Leigh Ann Schroeder, Iowa	Mrs. Maggie Swanson, North Carolina	Mrs. Kathleen Hartman, Washington