Presidio Hosts 10th Annual Teachers' Night
Presidio of San Francisco (September 29, 2011) — “With the right amount of chalk and challenge, teachers can change lives.” The Presidio Trust brings to life the words articulated by American businessman Joyce A. Myers when it hosts its 10th Annual Teachers’ Night, Thursday, October 6 from 5-7 pm at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop in the Presidio.
“This night celebrates the power of teaching and learning,” says Lisa Hillstrom, an education specialist for the Trust. “It’s about providing teachers with free resources to support them as they engage their students to make learning fun and relevant in the 21st century.”
Approximately 450 teachers, principals, and specialists are expected to attend Presidio Teachers’ Night this year, along with 60 exhibiting organizations. During the evening, guests enjoy a reception, collect materials, network, and learn about opportunities and resources available outside the classroom.
This year’s theme People and Places: Making History Matter, showcases the Presidio as a resource for learning about American history. The Presidio’s 1,491 acres serve as an outdoor classroom to more than 20,000 students and teachers each year. Information will be available on resources including the Presidio Archaeology Lab, which provides a wide variety of programming for teachers, including field trips, summer camps and afterschool programs for elementary through high school students; internships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students; volunteer programs; lectures, tours, and professional enhancement workshops for teachers and lifelong learners.
A special pre-program will be available from 4:30 to 5:15 pm, featuring living history demonstrations and a history walk to the National Cemetery or a visit to the Presidio Chapel’s 1934 mural. This year’s feature presentation, History: The Imagination, will be presented from 6 to 6:30 pm by celebrated author and publisher Malcolm Margolin. A gifted storyteller, Mr. Margolin will explore the role stories and the imagination play in making history lively and engaging for today’s students. The founder of Heyday Books, an independent publisher devoted to the history, literature and environment of California, Mr. Margolin has authored several books, including The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area, which is now in its seventeenth printing. He helped found Bay Nature Magazine and sits on the board of directors of the Bay Nature Institute.
Teachers’ Night is sponsored by the Presidio Trust, the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to administer the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park site that is located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The areas overseen by the Trust include expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. The National Park Service oversees the coastal areas of the Presidio. The park comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to the Presidio’s status as a National Historic Landmark District. The Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.