Sphere Summit
2025 Sphere Summit
Freedom, Rights, and America’s 250th
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 June 29 – July 3. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this Summit’s themes will explore the key ideas and principles articulated in that foundational American document. How have we succeeded or failed to live up to the promises of the Declaration? As we consider contemporary policy issues and challenges, how do those principles inform today’s debates?
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
Sunday, June 29
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address

Yuval Levin
Senior Fellow, Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies, American Enterprise Institute
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Jonathan Rauch
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power and Executive Orders

Alex Nowrasteh
Director of Immigration Studies and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Adam N. Michel
Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Richard Prisinzano
Director of Policy Analysis, the Budget Lab at Yale
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel

Cherie Arnette
Social Studies Specialist, Escambia County Schools

Patience LeBlanc
Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Frisco Independent School District

Ryan Werenka
Social Studies Teacher, Troy High School
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
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

Roger Ream
President, The Fund for American Studies

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- Bill of Rights Institute
- Foundation for Economic Education
- Izzit.org
- Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner Program

Jane Kamensky
President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Dinner
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Wednesday, July 2
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term

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

Stephen Spaulding
Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- iCivics
- National Constitution Center
- Retro Report
- Sphere Education Initiatives
Lunch
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy

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

Joseph Majkut
Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Session B: Criminal Justice

Yasmin Cader
Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, ACLU

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute

Ja’Ron Smith
Partner, CGCN
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: Teaching the Declaration at 250

Shannon Salter
Teacher, Building 21 High School
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
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


Cherie Arnette
Social Studies Specialist, Escambia County Schools

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

Yasmin Cader
Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, ACLU

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

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

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


Jane Kamensky
President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

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

Patience LeBlanc
Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Frisco Independent School District


Yuval Levin
Senior Fellow, Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies, American Enterprise Institute

Joseph Majkut
Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

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

Adam N. Michel
Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Clare Morell
Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute

Alex Nowrasteh
Director of Immigration Studies and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University

Richard Prisinzano
Director of Policy Analysis, the Budget Lab at Yale

Jonathan Rauch
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution

Roger Ream
President, The Fund for American Studies

Shannon Salter
Teacher, Building 21 High School

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College

Ja’Ron Smith
Partner, CGCN


Ryan Werenka
Social Studies Teacher, Troy High School
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 June 29 – July 3. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this Summit’s themes will explore the key ideas and principles articulated in that foundational American document. How have we succeeded or failed to live up to the promises of the Declaration? As we consider contemporary policy issues and challenges, how do those principles inform today’s debates?
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
Sunday, June 29
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address

Yuval Levin
Senior Fellow, Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies, American Enterprise Institute
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Jonathan Rauch
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power and Executive Orders

Alex Nowrasteh
Director of Immigration Studies and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Adam N. Michel
Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Richard Prisinzano
Director of Policy Analysis, the Budget Lab at Yale
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel

Cherie Arnette
Social Studies Specialist, Escambia County Schools

Patience LeBlanc
Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Frisco Independent School District

Ryan Werenka
Social Studies Teacher, Troy High School
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
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

Roger Ream
President, The Fund for American Studies

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- Bill of Rights Institute
- Foundation for Economic Education
- Izzit.org
- Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner Program

Jane Kamensky
President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Dinner
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Wednesday, July 2
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term

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

Stephen Spaulding
Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- iCivics
- National Constitution Center
- Retro Report
- Sphere Education Initiatives
Lunch
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy

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

Joseph Majkut
Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Session B: Criminal Justice

Yasmin Cader
Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, ACLU

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute

Ja’Ron Smith
Partner, CGCN
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: Teaching the Declaration at 250

Shannon Salter
Teacher, Building 21 High School
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
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


Cherie Arnette
Social Studies Specialist, Escambia County Schools

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

Yasmin Cader
Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, ACLU

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

Chelsea Follett
Managing Editor of Humanprogress.org

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

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


Jane Kamensky
President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

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

Patience LeBlanc
Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Frisco Independent School District


Yuval Levin
Senior Fellow, Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies, American Enterprise Institute

Joseph Majkut
Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

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

Adam N. Michel
Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Clare Morell
Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Clark Neily
Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute

Alex Nowrasteh
Director of Immigration Studies and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Gale Pooley
Professor of Economic History, Utah Tech University

Richard Prisinzano
Director of Policy Analysis, the Budget Lab at Yale

Jonathan Rauch
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution

Roger Ream
President, The Fund for American Studies

Shannon Salter
Teacher, Building 21 High School

Aaron Steelman
Senior Fellow and Policy Advisor, Cato Institute

Erec Smith
Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, York College

Ja’Ron Smith
Partner, CGCN


Ryan Werenka
Social Studies Teacher, Troy High School