Founding Voices

American Historical Theatre provides world-class historical characters and interpretations. Participating schools will receive one of three AHT performances:
 

We Disagreed as Rational Friends: The Politics and Friendship of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson     

Founding Fathers and icons of Independence John Adams and Thomas Jefferson meet 250 years after their labors of Liberty to discuss, debate (and sometimes digress) about the road to Independence and the new paths of a young nation. The two presidents take on topics from the Stamp Act to slavery, from Declaration to Constitution, and from revolution to republic. 

John and Abigail Adams: A Union of Hearts and Minds

John and Abigail Adams have been involved in American Politics for most of their married lives. In this conversation, Vice President John Adams and the first Second-Lady Abigail Adams discuss the important issues of the early years of the United States including: the actions which led the to the American rebellion to the British Authority and their mutually important but very different activities during the struggle for Independence.

Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson   

Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson were, for all practical explanations, from two completely different worlds. Their spheres should never have brought them together in friendship, but the extraordinary events of their lifetimes brought these two highly intelligent people into a friendship of conversation and correspondence that would provide posterity with a unique conversation about: the different roles, expectations of, and opportunities for men and women in the 18th century, the different economies of the northern and southern states during the founding years, and the developing, opposing political views of the new nation.

Dr. James Shuls is an education policy scholar and professor whose work focuses on civic education, school governance, and the role of institutions in strengthening American democracy. He serves as the Principal Investigator for the Founding Voices grant, where he leads the development and implementation of innovative civic learning experiences for middle school students. Through his research and program leadership, Dr. Shuls is committed to advancing civic literacy and supporting educators in preparing the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.

Dr. James “Lynn” Woodworth is an education policy expert whose work focuses on charter school performance, the use of education data in public policy, and the federal statistical system. He serves as Co–Principal Investigator (Co-PI) for the Founding Voices grant, supporting the design and implementation of evidence-based civic education initiatives for middle school students. A former Commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics, public-school teacher, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Dr. Woodworth brings decades of experience in education research, leadership, and public service to the program.

Dr. Daniel H. Bowen is an education policy scholar at Texas A&M University whose research focuses on arts, humanities, and civic education. He serves as the Principal Evaluation Expert for the Founding Voices grant, leading the design and implementation of rigorous evaluation strategies to measure the program’s impact on student learning and civic engagement. Through his work at Texas A&M and on the Founding Voices project, Dr. Bowen helps ensure that the program is guided by strong evidence and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Chelsea Starke is a research professional with several years of experience leading complex projects, including 3 years managing federally funded grants. Her research background has and continues to focus on identifying and mitigating disparities in the social sciences, with hands-on experience working with school staff and students in educational settings.

Sara Georgini is series editor for The Papers of John Adams, part of the Adams Papers editorial project based at the Massachusetts Historical Society, where she has worked on nearly 20 volumes of the edition. She is the author of Household Gods: The Religious Lives of the Adams Family (Oxford, 2019) and the forthcoming Our Library in Paris (Oxford, 2025), as well as editor of The Oxford Handbook of Family History and Genealogy.

Andrew M. Davenport, Ph.D., is Vice President for Research and Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. He has published widely about U.S. history and culture, including in Lapham’s Quarterly, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Smithsonian Magazine. His scholarship has appeared or will appear soon in the American Historical Review, French Cultural Studies, and in edited volumes about American history and literature. Davenport is a trustee of the American Agora Foundation, which insists that historical consciousness is an essential asset for a democratic republic, and an advisory board member at Historiq, a start-up that seeks to make advancements in archival processing through artificial intelligence. He received his doctorate in History from Georgetown University.

Danielle Kerr is a dedicated middle school educator with 13 years of experience teaching 7th grade civics. Recognized for excellence in the classroom, she was named her district's Teacher of the Year in 2019. Beyond the walls of her classroom, Mrs. Kerr has delivered presentations at multiple statewide conferences, sharing innovative instructional practices for engaging and effective civics education. Danielle Kerr is also an active member of the Florida Teacher Lead Network, collaborating with fellow educators to strengthen instructional practices and support student success.

Elizabeth Shannon has been teaching Civics for 15 years at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. She is also Gulf Coast Ambassador for the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative, coaching speech and debate for 4 years. Her greatest passion is helping students find their voice and learn skills in civil discourse. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with the performing arts department at her school, going to live performances (especially the circus!), and directing or working at anime and comic conventions in the area. 

Sherry Lawrance is a dedicated educator with 26 years of teaching experience and a lifelong passion for history. After years in the classroom, she returned to earn her certification in social sciences so she could teach the subject she loves most—history. A proud three-time graduate of Florida State University, Sherry brings both academic depth and real-world perspective to her instruction. Her commitment to civic education was further recognized this past summer when she was selected as a Civics Education Ambassador for the National Archives, an honor that reflects her passion for helping students understand the importance of history, government, and citizenship.