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.
Event Details
Dates and Times
Location
Cato Institute 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001Program
Monday, July 14
Reception
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address
Tuesday, July 15
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Tariffs and Trade
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Wednesday, July 16
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration
Free Time in Washington DC
Resumé Workshop
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz
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
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy
Session B: Criminal Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other
Free Time in Washington DC
Sphere Content for the Classroom
Friday, July 18
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends
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.
Program
Monday, July 14
Reception
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address
Tuesday, July 15
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Tariffs and Trade
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Wednesday, July 16
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration
Free Time in Washington DC
Resumé Workshop
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz
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
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy
Session B: Criminal Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other
Free Time in Washington DC
Sphere Content for the Classroom
Friday, July 18
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends