William & Mary names 100 teachers from across the nation to inaugural ‘We the Teachers’ fellowship

April 9, 2026 - 17:56

One hundred teachers from across the United States have been named to an inaugural national fellowship aimed at deepening civic education. The educators will form the first cohort of the "We the Teachers" program at William & Mary.

The fellowship is designed to reinvigorate classroom instruction on American history, constitutional principles, and civil dialogue. Selected from a highly competitive national pool, the fellows represent a diverse cross-section of K-12 educators dedicated to strengthening the foundation of civic knowledge for future generations.

The program's cornerstone will be a unique gathering dubbed the "Congress of Educators," scheduled for July 2026 in Virginia's Historic Triangle. This event will allow fellows to engage directly with constitutional scholars, historians, and fellow teachers in the very region where American democratic ideals were first forged.

University officials emphasize that the initiative seeks to provide educators with renewed resources, content knowledge, and a professional network. The goal is to empower them to foster more informed and engaged citizens. This long-term investment in teachers underscores a growing national focus on the vital role of civics in uniting a diverse society through a shared understanding of its founding and continuing story.