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History Teacher’s Summer Professional Development Fosters Classroom Learning

8/17/2019

As a recipient of a Goethe-Institut Transatlantic Outreach Program grant, Collegiate Upper School history teacher Wesley Hedgepeth traveled to Germany for two weeks this past summer. Alongside 12 teachers from across the United States and Canada, he visited Munich, Nuremberg, Geisa and Berlin.

While in Germany, the group visited three secondary schools and toured World War II sites including the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials Palace of Justice. They also saw Cold War sites including the former Iron Curtain Border and the Berlin Wall Memorial, and heard eyewitness testimony from both sides of the formerly split Germany.

In addition to schools and historical sites, the group learned about contemporary German issues by meeting with the international student movement group Fridays for Future to discuss climate change. They also spoke with both Sryian refugees and the German government to discuss the refugee experience. Lastly, the tour allowed for an exploration of German food and arts culture.

Excited to bring his experience and knowledge to the Collegiate community, Mr. Hedgepeth has already given a presentation to Collegiate teachers about his trip and he plans to integrate new lessons into the classroom curriculum throughout the school year. In addition, he will be presenting about his travels and curriculum development at the Virginia Conference for Social Studies Educators in October.

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