Traversing India's and Nepal's historical religious geography
2026-10-17 16:05 - 16:45 (America/New_York) | Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
Summary
In 2024, I was part of an educational group run by GEEO that toured northern India and parts of central Nepal. This trip focused on visiting multiple religious sites associated with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. As well as other Significant locations related to ancient Indian History. This presentation will explore the historical religious geography of India and Nepal, primarily focusing on Hinduism and Buddhism, but also including elements about other religions in India.

This discussion will examine the religious architecture and sacred sites we visited, such as Varanasi along the Ganges River, Sarnath, the location of Buddha’s first sermon, and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. and Kathmandu. Additionally, we will examine some of the religious ceremonies that the group had an opportunity to participate in. Participants in this session will receive a flash drive with an expanded PowerPoint slide show about the various historical religious geography
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Human and Cultural Geography | World/International
Conference Room
Reynolds Leadership Circle
Meet the Presenter
Professor Wyndham Whynot earned his Ph.D. in History from Kent State University, where he specialized in modern U.S. history, with additional concentrations in European and Latin American history. For the past 20 years, he has taught courses in social studies, including history, American government, and geography, as a professor at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.
He has published approximately twenty encyclopedia articles with ABC-CLIO, covering a range of country studies and biographical entries on notable historical figures. His current research focuses on a comparative analysis of STEM-related disciplines in ancient Mediterranean and American civilizations.
In addition to traveling to approximately 60 countries, Professor Whynot spent six years of his youth living in two European countries. He has also served in both the United States Army Reserves and on active duty in the United States Air Force.

From Plate Tectonics to Trade Routes: Geography Across Big History
2026-10-17 16:05 - 16:45 | Conference Room: Byrd
Summary
In this interactive session, explore how OER Project: Big History helps middle school students investigate 4.5 billion years of change through a geographic lens. From plate tectonics and biomes to trade routes, migration, and industrialization, participants will examine how physical landscapes shape human possibility.

Presenters will model strategies for teaching Big History at key “thresholds” of complexity while aligning instruction to the National Geography Standards. Attendees will engage with classroom-ready materials and collaborate on ways to integrate spatial thinking into interdisciplinary history courses.
Join us to explore how teaching on geography’s “fall lines” can help students see the powerful connections between Earth’s evolution and the human story—and better understand the forces shaping our shared future.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Byrd
Meet the Presenter
Bennett Sherry is a senior content manager at OER Project, where he helps develop content for all courses, including the creation of a series of political and thematic world maps. Bennett holds a PhD in history from the University of Pittsburgh and has undergraduate teaching experience in world history, human rights, and the Middle East. Bennett writes about refugees and international organizations in the twentieth century.

Chelsea Katzenberg, Bridgette O’Connor, and Bennett Sherry

The “Rest of the Story”: Geographic Insights on the 1918 Spanish Flu
2026-10-17 16:05 - 16:45 | Conference Room: Lacy
Summary
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic killed 50 million people, far surpassing the 16 million lives claimed by World War I. The deadly virus attacked one-fifth of the world’s population and killed more people than any other illness in recorded history yet receives short shrift in curriculum about the Great War.

In this inquiry-based session, educators analyze a variety of primary sources to view the impact and legacy of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic through a geographic lens. The session offers insights into the geopolitics behind the pandemic’s notorious misnomer as the “Spanish Flu,” recent evidence pointing to the influenza’s origins, and how the pandemic’s transmission pathways were directly exacerbated by WWI global troop movements.

Educators will leave this session with a classroom-ready lesson (slide deck, activity handout, and annotated resource list) that will enable them to: 1) discover how places and regions commonly associated with the 1918 Influenza Pandemic are often erroneous, 2) deepen their understanding of the historical context and global impact of the pandemic, and 3) explain how the geography behind WWI contributed to conditions that catalyzed the global spread of the deadly pandemic.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Geography for Life | World History
Conference Room
Lacy
Meet the Presenter
Jeannine Kuropatkin

Contours of Geography Education in the United States: Results from a National Survey of Teachers
2026-10-17 16:05 - 16:45 | Conference Room: Cullen
Summary
This session highlights the findings of a national survey of teachers (n=404) in the United States. To explore classroom practices in geography, a survey was designed and distributed to teachers working in public and private schools. Findings reveal which tools are frequently used to teach geography. Findings also focus on key topics and skills that are widely taught and those that are not widely taught. In particular, map making by students is a relatively infrequent activity in classrooms. This session seeks to spark conversation around the implications of the survey results for K-12 geography curriculum, instruction, and professional development. The session closes with an appeal for a more coordinated effort to conduct larger surveys of teachers as a regular barometer of the field of geography education.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Geography for Life | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Cullen
Meet the Presenter
Todd Kenreich is a professor of secondary and middle school education at Towson University in Maryland, and he is the co-director of the Maryland Geographic Alliance. His interests chiefly lie in the areas of geography education and global citizenship education. With a range of international experiences, Kenreich seeks to prepare cosmopolitan teachers who can help their students more deeply understand the world and their community. At Towson, he directs Global Citizenship in Education, a graduate certificate program for teachers. In 2008, he was named a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Japan. He has published articles in journals such as Theory and Research in Social Education, Journal of Geography, The Geography Teacher, and Social Studies Research and Practice. He edited Geography and Social Justice in the Classroom, a volume for the Routledge Research in Education book series.
Ken Carano is a professor of social science education in the division of education and leadership at Western Oregon University and programs coordinator for the Center for
Geography Education in Oregon. Prior to joining higher education, he taught high school social studies in Sarasota, Florida and spent time living in Suriname, South America as a Peace Corps Volunteer with his wife. Ken’s scholarship has long focused on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion on both a local and global scale.
Cathy Cooper earned an M.A. in geography at The George Washington University, and then a Ph.D. in geography education from Texas State University. In 2009-2010, she served as a Grosvenor Scholar. For four years, she coordinated “Mapping Maryland,” an annual student map competition. Now she enjoys living in a retirement community in Easton, Maryland. The Eastern Shore provides many occasions and entertainments as well as enjoyable opportunities to practice “geographic exercises” around both physical and cultural lessons. She points out to friends the opportunities of being aware of “thinking geographically.” She enjoys reading articles in the NCGE journals as well as re reading around some favorite chapters of geographers’ books. She enjoys the study of geography and enjoys sharing observations whether near at hand or farther afield.
Tracy Edward is the sustainability coordinator at Frostburg State University where she taught geography for more than 20 years. She serves as a director on the board of the National Council for Geographic Education. She is active in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the American Association of Geographers as well as in the Maryland Geographic Alliance.

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Allison Ewing is an experienced educator with 19 years of teaching in the classroom. She currently teaches AP Psychology, AP African American Studies, and United States History at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and student engagement across multiple disciplines. In addition to her classroom work, Ewing has served as the Coordinator for the Maryland Geographic Bee, supporting students in developing geographic literacy and critical thinking skills. Her dedication to teaching has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teacher K–12 Award in 2018 and the Chevron STEM Education Award in 2019. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher, reflecting her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional practice.
Ewing is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that empower students to think critically, engage with complex topics, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Daniel Whalen is an educational leader with a 22-year career dedicated to fostering student engagement and spatial literacy. Currently serving as an Assistant Principal in Las Vegas, New Mexico, his passion for geography is deeply rooted in his own diverse geographic upbringing—from the industrial heart of Pittsburgh to the close-knit, multi- generational farming villages of upstate New York. Holding a BA in History from SUNY Albany and an MA in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University, Daniel brings a profound understanding of how community, environment, and a "sense of place" shape student identity and achievement. Over his 18-year tenure with Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Daniel became a driving force in geographic and spatial science education. He spent a decade in the classroom teaching AP Human Geography and was instrumental in shaping the district's instructional framework, including co-authoring the AP Human Geography elective curriculum. Recognizing the critical importance of geospatial technologies, he later transitioned into Career and Technical Education (CTE). In this capacity, he pioneered pathways for students by developing and teaching comprehensive curricula for Homeland Security Science, Digital Cartography, and Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A dedicated advocate for geographic education at the national level, Daniel is thrilled to connect with fellow educators and leaders at the National Council for Geographic Education annual conference. He brings a wealth of assessment and mentorship experience to the geography community, having served as an AP Human Geography Reader since 2009 and a College Board Table Leader since 2023. As a Certified Geospatial Educator (GeoEdC) and a 2018-2019 American Geographic Society Fellow.
Daniel has consistently championed spatial education, supported by his leadership as Treasurer of the Maryland Geographic Alliance and his history of presenting on GIS integration at previous NCGE and Towson University conferences. Today, Daniel applies his geographer’s lens to school-wide administration, guiding educators to build innovative CTE pathways to graduation. In his administrative roles, he integrates character education and community-specific values into the curriculum—equipping students not just for the global workforce, but to lead and serve locally in Meadow City. Whether developing school-wide instructional strategies or serving as the energetic; voice celebrating student milestones, Daniel remains fiercely committed to elevating expectations, celebrating student success, and expanding access to high-quality geographic education.

Enhancing Geographic Consciousness with Curriculum Artifacts and Vignettes
2026-10-17 17:00 - 17:30 | Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
Summary
This session is geared toward teachers and teacher educators who want to think more strategically about improving teachers’ abilities to plan a critically-oriented geography curriculum. With the goal of exploring and advancing notions of geographic consciousness, the session offers examples and insights from a Miller-funded geography education research project. The project sought to understand the extent to which two pedagogical tools (curriculum artifacts and vignettes) could improve secondary teachers’ geographic “knowledge work” and “curriculum thinking.”

Session participants will explore/ discuss sample curriculum artifacts and vignettes in consideration of their utility for both pre-service teacher education faculty and practicing educators. Findings will demonstrate the extent to which educators were able to use geographic (disciplinary) knowledge to both understand and challenge the logics of society and environment in their lessons (and therefore enhance students’ geographic consciousness).

Given the contentious political and environmental times we are living, positioning geography as a visible and critical component of the social studies is more important than ever. The session asks audience members to a) consider this positioning within teacher education and b) re/consider how we first prepare, and then later develop, geography teachers. Importantly, both require enhancing teachers’ abilities to recontextualize critical elements from the discipline for K12 classrooms.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Physical & Environmental Geography, Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Reynolds Leadership Circle
Meet the Presenter
Kelly León is an Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). Previously she worked in teacher education at San Diego State and for 19 years, as a social studies/human geography teacher for a large urban school district, where she led efforts to reconceptualize and update her district’s required geography course. Kelly completed her undergraduate degree, bilingual teaching credential, and M.E.d in Policy Studies in Language & Cross-Cultural Education at San Diego State University and her PhD in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego. Her research interests include geography education, educational/social justice, and teachers’ knowledge work and curriculum-making

The Making of “My Maryland”: An Interactive State Atlas for Educators
2026-10-17 17:00 - 17:40 | Conference Room: Byrd
Summary
Computer mapping using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) has become the way all modern maps are made, and GIS has become much more accessible and easier to use. This session introduces a new interactive GIS atlas of Maryland designed to support geographic learning through inquiry and spatial thinking. Developed for middle school and high school classrooms, “My Maryland” provides students and teachers with a set of thematic maps focused on Maryland’s unique human and physical geography. Embedded with geospatial tools, the atlas includes map layers that highlight Maryland’s demographics, history, elections, infrastructure, and physical environment. Participants will explore the atlas to formulate geographic questions, analyze maps, and communicate claims based on evidence. In addition, opportunities for interdisciplinary connections and civic engagement will be offered. The session closes with a discussion of how to get started with creating a GIS atlas for your state.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High | Geospatial Technology | U.S. Focused
Conference Room
Byrd
Meet the Presenter
Todd Kenreich is a professor of secondary and middle school education at Towson University in Maryland, and he is the co-director of the Maryland Geographic Alliance.
His interests chiefly lie in the areas of geography education and global citizenship education. With a range of international experiences, Kenreich seeks to prepare cosmopolitan teachers who can help their students more deeply understand the world and their community. At Towson, he directs Global Citizenship in Education, a graduate certificate program for teachers. In 2008, he was named a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Japan. He has published articles in journals such as Theory and Research in Social Education, Journal of Geography, The Geography Teacher, and Social Studies Research and Practice. He edited Geography and Social Justice in the Classroom, a volume for the Routledge Research in Education book series.
Dr. Brandon J. Beck is an Assistant Professor of Secondary Social Studies and Africana Studies Affiliate Faculty at UMBC. After earning his Ph.D. from Clemson University in 2025, he joined UMBC to teach courses in social studies foundations and preservice teacher preparation. His research explores the history of Black education, community- based pedagogies, and the use of oral histories to foster reparative social justice. As a social studies education and history of Black education scholar, Dr. Beck draws on his experience as a former middle school department chair to advocate for culturally sustainable classrooms.
Cathy Cooper earned an M.A. in geography at The George Washington University, and then a Ph.D. in geography education from Texas State University. In 2009-2010, she served as a Grosvenor Scholar. For four years, she coordinated “Mapping Maryland,” an annual student map competition. Now she enjoys living in a retirement community in Easton, Maryland. The Eastern Shore provides many occasions and entertainments as well as enjoyable opportunities to practice “geographic exercises” around both physical and cultural lessons. She points out to friends the opportunities of being aware of “thinking geographically.” She enjoys reading articles in the NCGE journals as well as re-reading around some favorite chapters of geographers’ books. She enjoys the study of geography and enjoys sharing observations whether near at hand or farther afield.
Martin Schmidt teaches science at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland. He developed an interest in GIS in his work since 1978 as a science teacher, and realized computer mapping is also an excellent tool for geography, social studies, and other disciplines. He helps teachers of any subject develop maps they can use with their students, and learn skills to create exactly the maps they want to engage students in studying our fascinating and varied Earth.

Reading the Ocean: Mapping, Memory and Power in Samoa
2026-10-17 17:00 - 17:40 | Conference Room: Lacy
Summary
Often relegated to the last few days of the school year, Oceania and the Pacific Islands rarely get much time or focus in geography classrooms. This presentation will focus on how educators can infuse their lessons on mapping, spatial thinking, and geospatial technology with indigenous mapping practices to highlight differing approaches to representing geographic features and developing mental maps of the world – whether that world is land or sea. Teachers will receive lessons and materials for use in AP Human Geography, as well as PreAP and on-level geography courses.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography | Spatial thinking and Geospatial Technology
Conference Room
Lacy
Meet the Presenter
Dr. Michelle Crane has recently completed her PhD in Geography Education through Texas State University. She teaches Geography, PreAP Geography and History, and Sociology at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas. She also teaches Geography 1303 World Regional Geography at Texas A&M Texarkana. She is an avid traveler and frequently uses her travel experiences to enliven her classes and help engage her students in learning about the world.

Publishing in NCGE Journals
2026-10-17 17:00 - 17:40 | Conference Room: Cullen
Summary
The editors of the two NCGE journals – the Geography Teacher and the Journal of Geography – invite you to learn about the publication process for the journals and how you can become a successful author. Take half an hour to learn about preparing and submitting manuscripts, completing the publishing process as an author, and supporting the discipline as a reviewer. Attendees will be able to ask questions and solicit publication advice for the rest of the session.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Publishing
Conference Room
Cullen
Meet the Presenter
Dr. Injeong Jo is a Professor and Coordinator of the Online MAGeo in Geographic Education Program at Texas State University’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. Her research focuses on spatial thinking education, the use of geospatial technologies for teaching and learning, and teacher education. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Geography.

Dr. Gregory Chu, is widely recognized for his contributions to geography, with expertise in geographic information science, cartographic design, and educational strategies. He served as Department Chair and Professor at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and as a Program Director for Geography and Regional Science at the National Science Foundation. In addition to numerous scholarly publications, he is the author of two middle school geography textbooks, MyWorldInteractive and Contemporary World Cultures. As the editor of The Geography Teacher, Dr. Chu brings extensive experience and visionary leadership to advance the journal’s role as a vital resource for educators and scholars.
Dr. Mary D. Curtis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in the College of Education where she coordinates the Social Studies teacher preparation program. Dr. Curtis is a geography educator with over 20 years of experience and service from local to international levels. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Association of American Geographers Geography Education Specialty Group and as Associate Editor for the Journal

Jody Smothers-Marcello has a long record of endeavors in geography education including serving as president of NCGE in 2002, editing The Geography Teacher for two terms, co-chairing the AP Human Geography Development Committee, and serving on the social studies-history standards committee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). While teaching in the Sitka School District in Alaska, she was recognized with multiple state and national awards for her innovative teaching. She has also written a wide array of curricula and presented at numerous national professional development venues. Jody currently serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Geography.

APHG Happy Hour
2026-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of Unit 4 discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!

APHG Happy Hour
2027-01-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of Unit 5 discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!

APHG Happy Hour
2027-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of Unit 6 discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!

APHG Happy Hour
2027-03-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of Unit 7 discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!

APHG Happy Hour
2027-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of “Preparing for the Exam” discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!

APHG Happy Hour
2027-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Arizona
Join us for an informal, organic discussion facilitated by APHG educators for APHG educators. Each session will focus on a participant-driven conversation about each unit where you can share your insights, seek advice, and discuss the latest trends that support the implementation of the AP Human Geography curriculum without the constraints of a formal presentation.
Full details of “Wrapping up the Year” discussion coming soon!

Learn more about APHG Happy Hour and Join the Discussion!
