As North Carolina commemorates America’s 250th, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) and the National Paideia Center invite middle and high school teachers to explore the themes of freedom, democracy, and dissent through primary source documents.

Hosted on the grounds of DNCR’s Tryon Palace, the workshop will provide strategies for engaging students in compelling North Carolina documents (including petitions, letters, and laws, and more) using the interactive Paideia method, a thoughtful, student‑driven discussion guided by open‑ended questions. Its goal is to cultivate critical thinking, active listening, and collaborative dialogue. Participants will also explore DNCR’s State Archives’ America 250 NC “DocsBox”, primary source sets explore the State’s three constitutions and significant amendments and compelling Revolutionary NC stories, complete with accompanying lessons and activities.  

Don’t miss this chance to learn strategies for engaging middle and high school students in collaborative, text‑based dialogue and critical thinking that surfaces multiple perspectives on liberty, authority, and civic responsibility.

The day will end with an optional private tour of Tryon Palace to connect documents to place.

Teachers will receive:

• $100 stipend (mailed 2 weeks post-workshop)
• .6 CEUs
• Lunch
• A private tour of Tryon Palace (optional, at 3:30 pm)
• Classroom strategies and resources for utilizing primary sources to teach about themes including freedom, democracy, and dissent
• The chance to network with other great teachers from around the state in beautiful New Bern

APPLY HERE (applications are due by June 15; acceptances will be sent by June 19)

Acceptances & Cancellations 

Please note that limited space is available and filling out the application does not guarantee registration. If a spot is offered to you, you must confirm your participation by responding to your acceptance e-mail within three business days. If you are accepted and at any point find that you are no longer able to participate, it is critical that you provide ample notice of cancellation. Failure to do so prevents other teachers on the wait list from participating and results in waste of food, accommodations, and other resources.