Professional Development

"This institute was, by far, the best I have ever attended in all my years of teaching.” — Boston Public School teacher

The Department of Education and Public Programs of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum provides professional development opportunities for elementary and secondary school educators. These offerings range from day-long conferences to two-week institutes and take place throughout the year. Programs combine opportunities to interact with leaders in the fields of history, public affairs, and politics with creative teaching tools and primary source materials.

From Head and Heart: Caring for the Environment Through Science, Stories, and Action

This November 8, 2023 conference for teachers of grades 3 - 8 and school librarians will explore how literature can help students to understand the interconnectedness of the natural world and how educators can prepare young people to face the urgent challenges of a changing climate. Join keynote speaker Dr. J. Drew Lanham and award-winning authors Laurie Lawlor, Sy Montgomery, Anita Sanchez and Melissa Stewart to discuss the impact of climate change and how literature can empower students to navigate the future with hope and determination.

Framing History: The Power of Pictures

This November 2, 2022 conference for teachers of grades 3 - 8 and school librarians will explore how illustrations and images can deepen children's understanding of and interest in history. Join keynote speaker Ekua Holmes and guest illustrators Don Brown, Laura Freeman, and R. Gregory Christie to learn how to get students excited about history, stimulate their historical imagination, and challenge them to think critically about the past.

Resources from Dignity and Justice for All: Stories of Protest, Resistance, and Change

Access resources from the March 2021 conference that featured keynote speaker Dr. Debbie Reese and award-winning authors Jabari Asim, Ann Bausum, and Doreen Rappaport. The conference explored how children's literature can help students better understand how people past and present have organized movements to achieve dignity and justice.

Resources from To Light the World

On April 3, 2014, over 120 educators and school librarians attended the conference To Light the World: Stories of Hope and Courage for Challenging Times. Mary Ann Cappiello moderated an author's panel featuring Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Walter Dean Myers, and Doreen Rappaport.

Summer Reading for Teachers and Older Teens

View a selection of books on a variety of topics related to John F. Kennedy and his administration, publications featured in Kennedy Library Forums, and online resources from the Kennedy Library website.