Gail Bodner, a second-grade teacher at Mount Daniel Elementary School, participated in the White House History Teacher Institute over the summer. She was one of 60 educators selected nationwide for the five-day program hosted by the White House Historical Association in Washington, D.C.
“I feel so energized from the week at the institute,” Bodner said. “I am inspired by the education team at the association as well as the group of educators I was learning alongside.”
During the institute, Bodner and her peers had an exclusive after-hours tour of the White House led by a curator. The group learned about historical artifacts and met staff members responsible for maintaining daily operations.
“Our guide was one of the White House curators who really helped us deepen our understanding of the artifacts in the White House,” Bodner explained. “She had also arranged for the staff of the residence to meet us along the tour. We had a unique opportunity to learn about the different roles that keep the people’s house running!”
Bodner’s involvement with the institute began when she created supplemental curriculum materials to support advanced readers using “White House Clubhouse.” This work led her to apply for and be selected for the competitive program.
“I thought I would take a chance to apply and hope that I could learn about the history and perhaps use new resources to bolster my White House Clubhouse project,” she said.
Since returning, Bodner has planned new projects for her students, including collaboration with Mount Daniel’s art teacher on lessons about patriotic symbols and White House china. She will also incorporate insights from State Department educators into her civics unit. Additionally, she is coordinating pen pal exchanges between her students and a class in Texas.
Recently, Mount Daniel’s second-grade classes visited The People’s House: A White House Experience in Washington, D.C., which allowed students to engage directly with concepts from Bodner’s summer training.
The institute included sessions with historians, site visits, inquiry-based activities, and networking among teachers nationwide. Bodner encouraged other educators to pursue similar professional development opportunities.
“I encourage all those in education to look for these professional development opportunities,” she said. “I learned about so many other programs just by attending this one!”
The White House Historical Association runs nonpartisan programs aimed at educating people about presidential history through educator engagement.
Bodner’s participation highlights Falls Church City Public Schools’ commitment to offering research-based educational experiences for its students.
