Sphere Summit
2025 Sphere Summit
Cultivating Curiosity, Openness, and Civil Discourse in Every Classroom
Sphere Summit, a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators, returns as a fully in‐person experience in Washington, DC.

About
About
Sphere Summit, a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators, returns as a fully in‐person experience in Washington, DC, and will run July 14 – July 18. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
The challenge of polarization reaches all subject areas and disciplines in schools, making civil discourse all the more difficult. This Summit explores the key roles all educators play in creating a culture of civil discourse in school, enabling students to thrive in an environment that promotes curiosity and openness.
Sphere Summit is a full scholarship summer program for grades 5–12 educators and administrators. Summit is open to teachers of all subject areas and disciplines as well as school leaders and administrators. Multiple educators from the same school or department are encouraged to apply together.
Sphere Summit features presentations by leading policymakers, scholars, and academics, who discuss key public policy issues facing our nation today. Topics covered include free speech, the health of our democracy, criminal justice reform, the economy, and many others. Summit also features professional development workshops conducted by leaders in civic education on how to bring these ideas into your classroom.
Sphere Summit aims to restore a spirit of civil, constructive, and respectful discourse and engagement and to return facts, analysis, and research to primacy as the vehicles for discussion and debate.
Frequently Asked Questions
View frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Sphere Summit participation: general information, costs, applications and deadlines, and more.
Program
Program
Monday, July 14
Reception
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address

Daryl Davis
Musician and Race Relations Expert
Tuesday, July 15
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Nadine Strossen
Former President, American Civil Liberties Union; and John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present

Gene Healy
Senior Vice President for Policy, Cato Institute
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Tariffs and Trade

Scott Lincicome
Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute

Ryan Mullholland
Senior Fellow, International Economic Policy, Center for American Progress
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Robert Talisse
W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University
Wednesday, July 16
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration

David Bier
Director, Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Simon Hankinson
Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage Foundation
Free Time in Washington DC
Resumé Workshop
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- Retro Report
- Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Thursday, July 17
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term

Alicia Bannon
Director, Judiciary Program, Brennan Center for Justice

Thomas A. Berry
Research Fellow, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute; Managing Editor, Cato Supreme Court Review

John Malcolm
Vice President, Institute for Constitutional Government, Director of the Meese Center, Heritage Foundation
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy

Matt Mittelsteadt
Technology Policy and Research Fellow, Cato Institute
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy

Travis Fisher
Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Session B: Criminal Justice

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other
Free Time in Washington DC
Friday, July 18
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric

Arnold Kling
Senior Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends
Speakers

Alicia Bannon
Director, Judiciary Program, Brennan Center for Justice

Thomas A. Berry
Research Fellow, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute; Managing Editor, Cato Supreme Court Review

David Bier
Director, Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Daryl Davis
Musician and Race Relations Expert

Travis Fisher
Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Simon Hankinson
Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage Foundation

Gene Healy
Senior Vice President for Policy, Cato Institute

Arnold Kling
Senior Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Scott Lincicome
Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute

John Malcolm
Vice President, Institute for Constitutional Government, Director of the Meese Center, Heritage Foundation

Matt Mittelsteadt
Technology Policy and Research Fellow, Cato Institute

Ryan Mullholland
Senior Fellow, International Economic Policy, Center for American Progress

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute


Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College


Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute

Nadine Strossen
Former President, American Civil Liberties Union; and John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School

Robert Talisse
W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University
About
Sphere Summit, a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators, returns as a fully in‐person experience in Washington, DC, and will run July 14 – July 18. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
The challenge of polarization reaches all subject areas and disciplines in schools, making civil discourse all the more difficult. This Summit explores the key roles all educators play in creating a culture of civil discourse in school, enabling students to thrive in an environment that promotes curiosity and openness.
Sphere Summit is a full scholarship summer program for grades 5–12 educators and administrators. Summit is open to teachers of all subject areas and disciplines as well as school leaders and administrators. Multiple educators from the same school or department are encouraged to apply together.
Sphere Summit features presentations by leading policymakers, scholars, and academics, who discuss key public policy issues facing our nation today. Topics covered include free speech, the health of our democracy, criminal justice reform, the economy, and many others. Summit also features professional development workshops conducted by leaders in civic education on how to bring these ideas into your classroom.
Sphere Summit aims to restore a spirit of civil, constructive, and respectful discourse and engagement and to return facts, analysis, and research to primacy as the vehicles for discussion and debate.
Frequently Asked Questions
View frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Sphere Summit participation: general information, costs, applications and deadlines, and more.
Program
Monday, July 14
Reception
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address

Daryl Davis
Musician and Race Relations Expert
Tuesday, July 15
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Nadine Strossen
Former President, American Civil Liberties Union; and John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present

Gene Healy
Senior Vice President for Policy, Cato Institute
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Tariffs and Trade

Scott Lincicome
Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute

Ryan Mullholland
Senior Fellow, International Economic Policy, Center for American Progress
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Robert Talisse
W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University
Wednesday, July 16
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration

David Bier
Director, Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Simon Hankinson
Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage Foundation
Free Time in Washington DC
Resumé Workshop
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- Retro Report
- Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Thursday, July 17
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term

Alicia Bannon
Director, Judiciary Program, Brennan Center for Justice

Thomas A. Berry
Research Fellow, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute; Managing Editor, Cato Supreme Court Review

John Malcolm
Vice President, Institute for Constitutional Government, Director of the Meese Center, Heritage Foundation
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy

Matt Mittelsteadt
Technology Policy and Research Fellow, Cato Institute
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy

Travis Fisher
Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Session B: Criminal Justice

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other
Free Time in Washington DC
Friday, July 18
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric

Arnold Kling
Senior Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends

Alicia Bannon
Director, Judiciary Program, Brennan Center for Justice

Thomas A. Berry
Research Fellow, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute; Managing Editor, Cato Supreme Court Review

David Bier
Director, Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Daryl Davis
Musician and Race Relations Expert

Travis Fisher
Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Simon Hankinson
Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage Foundation

Gene Healy
Senior Vice President for Policy, Cato Institute

Arnold Kling
Senior Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Scott Lincicome
Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute

John Malcolm
Vice President, Institute for Constitutional Government, Director of the Meese Center, Heritage Foundation

Matt Mittelsteadt
Technology Policy and Research Fellow, Cato Institute

Ryan Mullholland
Senior Fellow, International Economic Policy, Center for American Progress

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute


Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College


Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute

Nadine Strossen
Former President, American Civil Liberties Union; and John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School

Robert Talisse
W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University