Hometown: Platteville, WI

“The things I love best about Close Up are the diversity of students we work with and that all our instructors share a genuine passion for civic education.”

Hometown: Wintersville, OH

“I enjoy helping students think about and express their own viewpoints about government and what it means to be an active citizen in the US.”

Hometown: Prairieville, LA

“Close Up offers unrivaled programs in growing students' ability to recognize themselves as difference makers. Participants get to explore their political identity and practice both putting forward their ideas and listening to others, all in a civil manner.”

Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL

“The most exciting part of being a program instructor is getting to hear the conversations amongst students as they challenge one another to speak up and share their opinions.”

Hometown: Garden Grove, CA

“It’s so exciting to meet new students and help teach them about government and civic engagement, all while showing them around the city that I love!”

Hometown: Falls Church, VA

“The most exciting thing about using DC as a living classroom is allowing students to see real historical sites, and helping them to apply what they learn in the classroom to the real world."

Hometown: Clifton, NJ

“The most exciting part of being a Close Up instructor is getting to work with different students from around the country and utilizing different learning environments in DC as a classroom to further expand ways to inform, inspire, and empower students.”

Hometown: Geneva, NY

“I love working at Close Up because it uses Washington DC as a classroom, which allows for hands-on learning.”

Hometown: Mesa, AZ

“Close Up allows for students to shape their political voice and values alongside a diverse set of individuals from every corner of the nation, in a truly unique and vibrant setting. Being a program instructor teaches me something every week, as I see students empower each other and stand up for themselves and their communities.”

Hometown: Croning, NY

“Washington, DC is the perfect social studies classroom because there is an intersection of local, state, and national governments in a concentrated area.”

Hometown: Falls Church, VA

“The Close Up Foundation offers immensely impactful programs for students all over the U.S. and I love getting to lead diverse workshops of students who are committed to being open, brave, and honest about their political opinions. I get the privilege of learning alongside my students every single week and I become more excited for the future of this country because of how empowered these students leave at the end of the program week.”

Hometown: Greenville, NC

“I’m eager to work as a Close Up instructor, not only to teach what I know about politics in DC, but also to learn from students how their background and education shapes their experience.”

Hometown: Largo, MD

“Close Up’s mission to inspire, inform, and empower young students is critical in creating a more tolerant and educated generation of citizens, who will be unafraid to talk about what they believe in.”

Hometown: Bethesda, MD

“At Close Up, our mission to increase political efficacy in youth is important because they are our future senators, representatives, and other political figures! I’m excited to show students a world class city and use the plethora of history that’s contained within.”

Hometown: Redwood City, CA

“It's so important for young people to be aware and involved in our democracy as they are the ones who will inherit it one day. Close Up is wonderful because students interact with the different people and places in DC to really experience democracy first-hand."

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

“Washington, DC, is rich with history, symbols, power, and contradiction–all ideal objects of examination and analysis. I couldn’t ask for a better classroom to teach in.”

Hometown: Washington, DC

“The most exciting part of being a Close Up program instructor is the ability to interact with students from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about political issues. It’s rewarding to play a role in inspiring them to be civically engaged adults.”

Hometown: Warren, OH

“The most exciting part of being a Close Up instructor is learning about students’ life experiences, and showing them how to relate that to the nation’s politics, culture, and history.”

Hometown: Ashland, VA

“The most exciting part about being a Close Up instructor is connecting students from different backgrounds, and facilitating productive policy discussions in the heart of where these national debates occur.”

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

“I love working at Close Up because their programs gives students and instructors a unique opportunity to meet other people from diverse backgrounds, respectfully engage in challenging discussions, and arrive at their own conclusions freely.”

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

“In Washington, history permeates the buildings and streets we stride through, but we also interact with the ongoing and dynamic. At Close Up, we get to help students learn how these historical events have had world-wide ramifications, as they get to see why their opinions matter, and how they can influence the present and future.”

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

“What inspires me about Close Up is seeing students participating in government, not just in theory, but also in practice.”

Hometown: Morrison, CO

“I’m enthusiastic about working at Close Up because it brings in students from across the country, and opens them up to the possibilities, as well as the challenges, of our democracy.”

Hometown: Alameda, CA

“The greatest thing about being a Close Up instructor is seeing students begin to feel empowered to develop and voice their opinions on the important issues facing their generation.”

Hometown: Potomac, MD

“The greatest thing about being a Close Up instructor is seeing students begin to feel empowered to develop and voice their opinions on the important issues facing their generation.”

Hometown: Greensburg, PA

“The best thing about being an instructor at Close Up is using DC as a classroom. The sheer abundance of things to see and do will stimulate critical thinking and energize students throughout the day.”

Hometown: Born in Khartoum, Sudan: Raised in Woodbridge, Virginia.

“The most exciting thing about using DC as a classroom is facilitating discussions at monuments, museums, and neighborhoods because it provides real life context to current issues. Students get the benefits of site seeing important places while being educated on policy and history.”

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY (by way of Georgetown, Guyana)

“Close Up gives me the chance to interact with a soon-to-be voting body of citizens! I’m excited to get to ignite their political efficacy and learn about the different issues they are passionate about.”

Hometown: Lake Mary, FL

“The mission of Close Up has transcended and affected multiple generations of students. It continues to be paramount and timely today. It is an honor to be trusted to instruct students in a democratic classroom because the values of civility, empowerment, and leadership learned during this program will stay with these students as they grow into impactful citizens in their communities.”

Hometown: Youngstown, OH

“Democracies offer innumerable benefits to young people. By supporting their political passions, we are creating a better tomorrow for America.”

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

“Close Up’s mission is important because democracies rely on an active and informed citizenry. By informing, inspiring and empowering American youth to be those active citizens for life, Close Up can supplement the vital role of public education in fostering positive citizenship.”

Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI

“I’m super excited to use DC as a classroom because it encompasses both our nation’s past and present, as it continues to move forward.”

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

“I’m excited about working at Close Up because it gives me a chance to work interactively with people from all over the country. Close Up’s mission is important because too many people take our democracy for granted. These programs can give a generation of young people the resources they need to change the country.”

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

“The most exciting thing about using Washington, DC, as a classroom is showing students the real people that have enacted real change through citizen action. Seeing the students light up as they visit the magnificent structures is a bonus!”

Hometown: Centennial, CO

“What I like most about Close Up is the chance to teach students about ideas that are always being reinforced and/or challenged by current events. In addition, I love non-traditional learning spaces, and I have an appreciation for teaching in the monumental places we discuss.”

Hometown: Naples, FL

“Though it is easy to feel tense by the politics in Washington, I’m always eager to show young activists that they already have the power to make the world a better place. Through Close Up, they learn how to form their own opinions about controversial issues, and be part of a collaborative community of passionate people.”

Hometown: Thurmont, MD

“Young people are the foundation for our future. It is important to provide students with the necessary tools and knowledge as they grow to become leaders and change makers. Close Up's programs help students to achieve this goal by providing them with experiences in citizenship and showing them how to be active and engaged citizens.”

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

“The best part of being an instructor at Close Up is being able to inspire and understand the thoughts and opinions of our future leaders.”

Hometown: Rockville, MD

“The most exciting thing about being a Close Up instructor is being able to help students think through the most challenging political issues facing the nation today.”

Hometown: Chesterfield, VA

“The most exciting thing about using DC as a classroom is being able to punctuate lessons with monument visits and discussions with members of Congress. Visiting museums that solidify learning and allow students to better retain the information is an important part of being a responsible citizen of a democracy.”

Hometown: Washington, DC

“Washington, DC, is one of the most powerful cities in the world, but more than that it is a place where a vibrant culture and people exist and flourish. I’m excited to work with young people on figuring about how they feel and think about increasingly complicated, and often overwhelming, political issues.”

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL

“At Close Up, I’m a part of a team where everyone whole-heartedly believes in the mission of informing, inspiring and empowering the youth. A thriving democracy requires an informed and active population, and using DC as a classroom is an incredible way to show students just how much their voices matter.”

Hometown: Sandy Springs, GA

“What I like most about Close Up is its uniqueness. Its programs allow students to come together for respectful, productive debate that is focused, not on partisanship, but on policy itself.”

Hometown: River Forest, IL

“I am passionate about empowering kids to be more politically involved through Close Up’s programs. It is never too early to become more engaged in our political system, and I am very fortunate to inspire young people to increase their political efficacy.”

Hometown: Cadillac, WI

“Being part of Close Up will allow me to show students the incredibly beautiful, powerful, and historically-rich Washington, DC, I’m excited to hear the different perspectives of students all across the nation.”

Hometown: Washington, DC and Potomac, MD

“I enjoy being an instructor at Close Up because I get to engage students on how to be active participants in their country’s democracy. Students can see their textbooks come to life as they walk through DC, and observe the things they’ve learned in action.”

Hometown: Tulsa, OK

“The most exciting thing about using Washington, DC, as a classroom is that it provides students with experiential learning opportunities beyond a traditional classroom setting. These direct experiences bring civic education to life!”

Hometown: South Bend, IN

“The most exciting part of being a Close Up instructor is helping students discover and develop their role in our system of government.”

Hometown: Augusta, GA

“As a Close Up instructor, I thoroughly enjoy getting to learn all of the different perspectives and experiences from students all over the country. Showing students that the city is alive, not just with government or politics, but with a rich culture and history that shaped American values, is by far the greatest part of the job.”

Hometown: Tucson, AZ

“The best part about working with Close Up will be teaching students how to apply what they learn here to create change in their home communities.”

Hometown: Winchester, VA

“Close Up's mission forms the foundation that makes great citizens and future leaders.”

Hometown: Koforidua, Ghana

“My favorite part of Close Up is the unique non-partisan approach to teaching.”

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

“The best part of being a TPS is working with teachers from all across the country and overseas, imparting knowledge of our history and government, and learning from them in return.”

Hometown: Little Rock, AR

“As a former educator, I enjoy working with Close Up teachers from all over the country as they continue to enrich their dedication to civic education in the classroom.”

Hometown: Highland Park, IL

“It is so rewarding to engage Close Up teachers in political and history discussions as we use the sights and sounds of Washington as our classroom.”

Hometown: Yorktown Heights, NY

“I love working at Close Up because I believe that our mission to inform, inspire, and empower the youth of America is vitally important for the future of our great country.”

Hometown: Silver Spring, MD

“I love this city and want to show teachers and students all the resources here.”