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

Daryl Davis
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Jonathan Rauch

Nadine Strossen
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power and Executive Orders

Alex Nowrasteh

Cody Venzke
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Adam N. Michel

Richard Prisinzano
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel

Cherie Arnette

Patience LeBlanc

Ryan Werenka
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration

David Bier

Simon Hankinson
Free Time in Washington, DC
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress

Chelsea Follett

Gale Pooley
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz

William Galston

Roger Ream

Aaron Steelman
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
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

John Malcolm

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

Travis Fisher

Joseph Majkut
Session B: Criminal Justice

Yasmin Cader

Clark Neily

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

Shannon Salter

Nancy Wickham

O’Sha Williams
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric

Arnold Kling

Erec Smith
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends
Speakers


Cherie Arnette

Thomas A. Berry

David Bier

Yasmin Cader

Daryl Davis

Travis Fisher

Chelsea Follett

William Galston

Douglas H. Ginsburg

Simon Hankinson


Jane Kamensky

Arnold Kling


Patience LeBlanc
Patience LeBlanc is the secondary social studies coordinator for Frisco Independent School District, where she oversees curriculum and supports secondary social studies teachers. With more than 26 years of experience, she has taught at both middle and high school levels, primarily eighth‐grade US history, but also Texas history, AP US history, AP world history, constitutional law, and street law. She has also coached academic and athletic teams, including Academic Decathlon, Citizen Bee, We the People, and multiple sports.
LeBlanc has consulted for the State Bar of Texas Law‐Related Education, the Center for Civic Education, the We the People program, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute, contributing curriculum and leading workshops nationwide. Her honors include the 2020 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teacher of the Year, 2018 Gilder Lehrman Texas Teacher of the Year, 2013 American Lawyers Auxiliary Teacher of the Year, 2011 Texas Lawyers Auxiliary Teacher of the Year, a 2010 James Madison Foundation Fellowship, and the 2005 Leon Jaworski Award for Excellence in Law Focused Education. She holds a BA in history from Texas A&M University and an MA in history from Texas Woman’s University.


Joseph Majkut

John Malcolm

Adam N. Michel

Clare Morell

Clark Neily

Alex Nowrasteh

Gale Pooley

Richard Prisinzano

Jonathan Rauch

Roger Ream

Shannon Salter

Aaron Steelman

Erec Smith

Ja’Ron Smith


Cody Venzke

Ryan Werenka

Nancy Wickham

O’Sha Williams
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

Daryl Davis
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today

Jonathan Rauch

Nadine Strossen
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power and Executive Orders

Alex Nowrasteh

Cody Venzke
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Adam N. Michel

Richard Prisinzano
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program

Douglas H. Ginsburg
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel

Cherie Arnette

Patience LeBlanc

Ryan Werenka
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration

David Bier

Simon Hankinson
Free Time in Washington, DC
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress

Chelsea Follett

Gale Pooley
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz

William Galston

Roger Ream

Aaron Steelman
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
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

John Malcolm

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

Travis Fisher

Joseph Majkut
Session B: Criminal Justice

Yasmin Cader

Clark Neily

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

Shannon Salter

Nancy Wickham

O’Sha Williams
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric

Arnold Kling

Erec Smith
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends


Cherie Arnette

Thomas A. Berry

David Bier

Yasmin Cader

Daryl Davis

Travis Fisher

Chelsea Follett

William Galston

Douglas H. Ginsburg

Simon Hankinson


Jane Kamensky

Arnold Kling


Patience LeBlanc
Patience LeBlanc is the secondary social studies coordinator for Frisco Independent School District, where she oversees curriculum and supports secondary social studies teachers. With more than 26 years of experience, she has taught at both middle and high school levels, primarily eighth‐grade US history, but also Texas history, AP US history, AP world history, constitutional law, and street law. She has also coached academic and athletic teams, including Academic Decathlon, Citizen Bee, We the People, and multiple sports.
LeBlanc has consulted for the State Bar of Texas Law‐Related Education, the Center for Civic Education, the We the People program, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute, contributing curriculum and leading workshops nationwide. Her honors include the 2020 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teacher of the Year, 2018 Gilder Lehrman Texas Teacher of the Year, 2013 American Lawyers Auxiliary Teacher of the Year, 2011 Texas Lawyers Auxiliary Teacher of the Year, a 2010 James Madison Foundation Fellowship, and the 2005 Leon Jaworski Award for Excellence in Law Focused Education. She holds a BA in history from Texas A&M University and an MA in history from Texas Woman’s University.


Joseph Majkut

John Malcolm

Adam N. Michel

Clare Morell

Clark Neily

Alex Nowrasteh

Gale Pooley

Richard Prisinzano

Jonathan Rauch

Roger Ream

Shannon Salter

Aaron Steelman

Erec Smith

Ja’Ron Smith


Cody Venzke

Ryan Werenka

Nancy Wickham
