Virginia Teacher Wins $5K Grant for Declaration Project

When Essie Jones thinks about the Declaration of Independence, she sees it as America's ultimate breakup letter with Great Britain. Now the Alexandria City High School math teacher has a $5,000 grant to help her students understand why that 250-year-old letter still matters today.

Jones is one of just 51 educators nationwide selected for a Teaching America250 Award from the Jack Miller Center. The grant arrives perfectly timed for this year's 250th anniversary of the Declaration's signing.

Her vision goes far beyond textbook readings. This April, ACHS students will compete in essay and art contests exploring America's founding ideals, with prizes ranging from $50 to $300 for winners.

But Jones isn't stopping there. She's planning field trips to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the National Archives, where students will stand face to face with the original Declaration of Independence.

"I think it's very, very important for students to actually read it," Jones said. She applied for the grant last fall with a clear goal in mind.

The project also includes a lunch gathering with Alexandria's elected leaders. Jones sees it as a bridge between historical ideals and modern civic engagement.

The Ripple Effect

Jones's approach represents something bigger than one classroom project. She's working to bring teachers together across different subjects to create connected learning experiences that feel real to students.

"We're trying to get teachers to come together and create thematic units where we work together across subject areas to provide authentic experiences for students," she explained. Math, history, art, and civics can all meet at the intersection of America's founding story.

The Teaching America250 awards reached all 50 states and Washington D.C., creating a nationwide network of educators reimagining how young people connect with American history. Jones's project stands out for turning abstract historical concepts into tangible experiences students can touch, create, and discuss with their own community leaders.

For students who might see the Declaration as just another required reading, Jones is creating something different: a chance to explore why revolutionaries put pen to paper, what they hoped to build, and how those ideals continue shaping the nation today.

What a wonderful way to make 250-year-old words feel relevant to teenagers in 2025.