Marietta fifth grade history teacher, Shaylin Nutter has been selected to attend the
Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Insistute in early June. Nutter will join 24 other Oklahoma
social studies teachers in Williamsburg, Virginia.
“I first learned about the opportunity for the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute last
April from our district Professional Development Director, Amy Christensen, who I’m so
thankful for,” Nutter explained. “I never would have known about an opportunity like this
without her. She knows me well as an educator and supports my goal of bringing history
to life in the classroom in a way that is engaging and memorable for my students.”
Nutter applied for the workshop last fall and recently received a letter confirming that
she had been selected to attend.
“As I read about it and realized how competitive it is, it felt like wishful thinking. In the
business that is fifth grade, it honestly didn’t cross my mind again until January when I
got an email saying my application was being submitted for review, but it still felt like
such a long shot,” she said. “When I got my acceptance email in February, I was
shocked, to say the least.”
The institute is an all-expenses-paid summer workshop, designed to allow teachers to
explore Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum, as well as
nearby Jamestown and Yorktown.
She will have the opportunity to meet character interpreters of 18 th century people and
enjoy immersive experiences throughout the area. Nutter will also learn primary source-
centered, standards-historical content and collaborate daily with a lead teacher and
fellow educators to discuss interactive teaching techniques.
“We are proud of Ms. Nutter’s desire to continually improve social studies education to
our elementary students,” said Superintendent Brandi Naylor. “Our district is blessed to
have teachers like her who care enough about their students to seek out extra
opportunities to make education dynamic.”
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has coordinated the state’s participation in
the institute since 1993, thanks to the support of the late Edward C. Joullian, III, a
former board member of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Oklahoma
Foundation for Excellence. Along with a group of other donors, Joullian’s family
continues to support the program.
“I’m so humbled to have been chosen and can’t wait for the experience. I would be
remiss not to thank the Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence for sponsoring me,” Nutter
stated. “I am so excited for such an incredible opportunity that I know will not only be
amazing just for me, but also how this extra layer of knowledge and connection will
benefit my students going forward.”