Event Overview
Event Description:
The TeachRock Teachers Summit 2026, a partnership between the Rock & Roll Forever Foundation and the National Humanities Center, invites educators to reimagine US history through the power of music. Designed for K–12 teachers, this three-day, in-person program will explore how songs, recordings, and musical culture can serve as rich primary sources for historical inquiry.
Centered on TeachRock’s course A People’s Playlist: US History with Music as a Primary Source, the summit brings educators into conversation with scholars, curriculum specialists, and fellow teachers who are using music to deepen student engagement and understanding. Through hands-on sessions, collaborative discussions, and lesson design workshops, educators will gain practical strategies for integrating music into their curricula.
Who Should Attend
Active K-12 educators.
What You'll Walk Away With
By the end of the program, participants will leave with ready-to-use resources, adaptable lesson plans, and new approaches for helping students connect with the past through sound and story. The summit empowers educators to bring diverse perspectives into the classroom and to inspire students to see themselves as active participants in American history.
Cost
No application fees. Teachers accepted into the program will receive a $750 stipend for attending the virtual orientation and all three days of the Summit.
Application Information
- Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted by May 30, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered for review.
- Employment: Applicants should be currently employed in a school and teaching or supporting grades K-12.
- Attendance: Attendance at the virtual orientation and all three days of the Summit is required to receive the $750 stipend.
- Acceptance: Participants will receive a notification of acceptance or nonacceptance on or before June 8, 2026. Please be sure to hold the required dates until that point.
- Resource Development: Selected participants will be expected to collaborate on the creation of a classroom-ready instructional resource or lesson plan based on summit content.