The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Teacher Institute provides Virginia elementary and secondary teachers with historical content supporting current Virginia Standards of Learning while reaching deeper into the stories of the past and our shared culture. 

Free for elementary and secondary (K-12) Virginia teachers

The Teacher Institute is free for Virginia teachers, thanks to generous support from donors. The Virginia Teacher Institute has no application fees and donor funding provides meals, accommodations and a stipend to cover travel costs.

What to expect at the Teacher Institute

During this multi-day, immersive experience, teachers from around Virginia will explore the three cultures - Powhatan Indian, English, and West Central African - that converged at Jamestown in the early 17th century. Through hands-on learning activities and presentations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of early Virginia history. Collaboration with Jamestown-Yorktown staff and fellow classroom educators will provide the tools and strategies that will help them bring history to life and inspire students to a lifelong passion for learning, critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and communication. Participants will also receive a kit of reproduction artifacts for their classroom.

During the week, participants will:

• Sail on the James River aboard the reproduction 17th century sailing vessel Godspeed (weather permitting) and learn about early European navigation. 
• Visit the Paspahegh Town to learn about the food and culture of the people of Tsenacommacah.
• Experience the interactions between the Powhatan Indians and the English. 
• Explore the lives and cultures of the West Central Africans who were brought to Jamestown against their will.
• Sample foods from the three cultures that converged at Jamestown.
• Gain a greater understanding of how the history of early Virginia continues to impact the world today.

Important details

The 2025 Teacher Institutes for elementary and secondary school teachers will be held at Jamestown Settlement.

• July 7-11, 2025  - Secondary Teachers
• July 28-August 1, 2025 - Elementary Teachers

Pre-conference activity

Teachers accepted into the program are expected to complete four online learning units prior to in-person participation. Each unit will take no more than one hour to complete and will consist of readings, videos, and short discussion opportunities. The goal is to provide the richest learning experience possible and assure all participants begin with a shared base-line knowledge. This work is included in the total 45 contact hours awarded at the end of the institute.

2025 Application Information

Participants are selected through a competitive process based on applicant responses to questions at the end of the application and a letter of recommendation from an administrator. Participation is limited to 20 participants for each week. 

Applications must be submitted by 9 a.m. EST on April 14, 2025.

Administrator recommendations can be emailed to teacher.programs@jyf.virginia.gov and are due by 9 a.m. EST on April 21, 2025.

The teacher institute is free for Virginia teachers, thanks to generous support by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Annual Fund, the Abbitt Family Foundation, the Charles S. and Millicent P. Brown Family Foundation, Audrael and John Chiricotti, and Randy and Shelby Hawthorne.

Reflections on the 2024 Teacher Institute

View teacher experiences from Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s Teacher Institutes for secondary teachers in 2024.