The Smithsonian has expanded programming for its 2026 National Education Summit, adding new sessions and keynote speaker Leon Smith, the 2026 National Teacher of the Year. The three-day event will take place Tuesday, July 14, through Thursday, July 16, in Washington, D.C., and online.
Smith, who also was named the 2025 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, teaches AP U.S. history and AP African American studies at Haverford High School in Havertown, Pennsylvania. He will deliver the keynote session “Unlocking the Potential in Every Student.” Known for his emphasis on critical thinking, civic engagement and elevating student voices, Smith brings a dynamic classroom‑tested perspective on how young people learn and lead. The keynote will be presented in person at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington and livestreamed for online participants.
New Sessions Added
In a year marking the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s theme, “Together We Thrive: Towards a More Perfect Union,” invites educators to reflect on our shared history and envision the future we aim to build together. The summit provides participants with access to Smithsonian resources and tools, actionable teaching and learning strategies, and a unique opportunity to network with educators across a wide range of learning environments. With educators registered from all 50 states, the Smithsonian is expanding its offerings to meet the growing interest.
Summit Schedule
Tuesday, July 14; 3 p.m.–3:50 p.m. online; Wednesday, July 15; 1 p.m.–1:50 p.m. in person
We the Teachers: New Resources for Civic Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Previously offered online only, this session will now be available online July 14 and in person July 15. Participants will explore a suite of civic education resources, including activities, lesson plans, research guides and case studies designed to support civic understanding.
Wednesday, July 15; 1 p.m.–2 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.–3:15 p.m.
Inspire and Inquire with Student Programs
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Educators from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will share strategies for connecting artworks and portraits to meaningful discussions across subject areas. Sessions will be led by experienced facilitators from both museums.
Thursday, July 16; 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
¡Puro Ritmo! Teaching History Through Objects
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
Previously offered only in the afternoon, the Smithsonian will also host a morning in-gallery session at the National Museum of the American Latino’s Molina Gallery. The sessions include a guided tour of the new museum’s “¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa” exhibition, plus a chance to engage in a hands-on object-biography activity led by the museum’s education and programming staff, highlighting how to narrate an object’s life story, historical context and significance as a primary source.
The expanded lineup provides educators across schools, libraries and museums with more opportunities to engage with Smithsonian collections, content and expertise and to network with peers from across the country. Each session emphasizes practical, ready-to-use strategies and digital resources to support teaching and learning.
Featured Online Sessions
This year’s summit offers four curated session tracks designed to help educators bring history, civic dialogue and the arts to life. As previously announced, the “Placing History in Context” track features standout online sessions Tuesday, July 14, including:
- History that Speaks: From Stories to Power, starting at noon, highlights engaging and meaningful ways to use oral history interviews from the new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum’s collection as learning tools.
- Beyond the Visit: Smithsonian Digital Tools, starting at 1 p.m., spotlights cutting-edge digital resources for 3D object exploration and surfacing community stories.
- 250 Years: Local Stories, National Narratives, starting at 2 p.m., connects postal history as an entry point for conversations about American identity, regional diversity and what it means to be part of a nation.
- We the Teachers: New Resources for Civic Education, starting at 3 p.m., brings together a spectrum of program models from across the Smithsonian to engage students in civic dialogue.
The Smithsonian invites educators, librarians, museum professionals and community partners to participate in this national convening during a historic anniversary year. For full session details and free registration, visit the National Education Summit website.
About the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education
The Smithsonian Institution’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education (OUSE) advances the Smithsonian’s mission to increase and diffuse knowledge through educational leadership, research and collaboration. OUSE works across the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers and programs to develop and share high-quality educational resources, professional learning opportunities and partnerships that support teaching and learning nationwide. Through its work, OUSE helps connect learners of all ages to the Smithsonian’s collections, scholarship and expertise.