Digging Deeper! Educator Conference 2025
Save the date and get ready to dig in at the Digging Deeper! Educator Conference 2025.
Join us July 28–29, 2025, for Digging Deeper, an educator conference for teachers hosted by Museum of the Bible.
Come discover how archaeology serves as a mode of discovery that supports biblical history. Collaboratively, presenters and teachers will dig deep into teaching methods and hands-on activities that bring the curiosities of students alive. This year, we will use Project Zero during our breakout sessions, giving teachers the opportunity to experience active learning through the history and stories of the Bible. The two-day conference will consist of various types of presentations: workshops, keynotes, breakout sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, and an exclusive evening program, Illuminated: After Hours at Museum of the Bible.
This conference is for public and private school teachers, homeschool parents, museum educators, and youth leaders.
Jul 28, 2025 - Jul 29, 2025
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Museum of the Bible
Includes Admission
GA $120.00
Members and Students $85.00
Virtual GA $39.99
Virtual Members and Students $19.99
In Person Event
Virtual Event
Poster Session
Showcase your innovative approaches to incorporating archaeology into education during our Poster Session.
Plan Your Trip
Need directions to the museum or parking information? Click the Plan Your Visit button.
And book a hotel before July 5, 2025, to take advantage of group rates from our hotel partner using the button below.
Other Nearby Places to Stay
Museum of the Bible is conveniently located just blocks from these hotels:
Residence Inn
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall
Event Schedule
See the speaker bios below to learn more about the presenters and to see an abstract of their presentation.
Schedule
July 28
12:00–4:00 p.m.
Registration in the Grand Hall (Floor 1)
Arriving early? Come explore the museum's exhibits.
3:00–5:00 p.m.
Dig in!
Learn about opportunities for you and your students to dig deeper into archaeology. Connect with representatives of local and international organizations to support curriculum, research, and experiential learning.
Enjoy refreshments and light bites ahead of the keynote session.
5:00 p.m.
Welcome from museum staff, orientation and logistics for the conference
5:20 p.m.
Keynote: "Digging Deeper into the Homestead of an Israelite with Dr. Oliver Hersey
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Illuminated: After Hours at Museum of the Bible
Join us for an exclusive opportunity to explore the museum and its galleries after dark! Led by museum educators, this experience highlights the current and long-term exhibits, with special programming tailored to bring deeper insights into each.
July 29
9:00–9:30 a.m.
Check in and Registration in the Grand Hall (Floor 1)
9:30–10:15 a.m.
Keynote: "Digging into Context: The Art of Asking Questions" with Dr. Cyndi Parker
10:15–10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30–11:15 a.m.
Breakout Session: Project Zero: Developing Strategies for Your Classroom
11:15–11:30 a.m.
Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Breakout Session: Dig Deep Oil Lamp Workshop
12:15–1:15 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:15–2:00 p.m.
Poster Session
Teachers will be able to register ahead and share their research and activities using Project Zero strategies to teach in their classrooms.
2:00–2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15–3:00 p.m.
Breakout Session: Digging and Building our Roadmap Together: Museum Experiences with Your Classroom
3:00–3:15 p.m.
Break
3:15–4:00 p.m.
Engaging Instructional Methods: Student Choice, Student Voice, and Designing Stations
4:15–5:00 p.m.
Closing Panel
Speakers
Dr. Craig Perrier
Dr. Craig Perrier is a high school social studies curriculum and instruction specialist. Previously, he taught at American Schools in Brazil for six years and for six years in public schools in Massachusetts. After leaving the classroom, he was the Coordinator for Curriculum and Instruction for Social Studies and History at Virtual High School and then the PK–12 Social Studies Coordinator for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. He has consulted for IREX, the US State Department, the OER Project, and is the creator of multiple digital history projects. Dr. Perrier presents at regional and national conferences, sits on multiple advisory boards, is a Fulbright Specialist in Education, and is the creator of the free online teacher resource "U.S. History in a Global Context." He enjoys live music, working out, traveling, relaxing in hammocks, and designing memorable learning experiences for his students.
Sandra Argo
With more than 30 years of experience in education, Sandra has been in the classroom with students of all levels, teaching, supervising curriculum, as school principal, and as owner of a private international education company. Sandra holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in teaching and one in management and leadership, as well as two masters', one in project management and one in educational leadership with a focus on museum studies. In the last 12 years, Sandra has dived deep into museum education, bringing her world-class experience of developing immersive educational programs in four countries: USA, Brazil, England, and Finland. Her "edupreneurship" (entrepreneurship + education) skills bring innovation and a new vision for the Education Department of Museum of the Bible.
Dr. Oliver Hersey
Dr. Oliver Hersey began serving as the eleventh president of Jerusalem University College on August 1, 2021. Having been shaped by his own experiences in the Holy Land, Dr. Hersey desires to help students better understand the Bible by providing them with opportunities to study in Israel the geographical, cultural, and historical contexts of God’s Word. He taught high school math for five years and coached Varsity soccer for 10 years. He is a pastor in the Reformed Church of America, previously serving as the Director of Discipleship and Teaching at Calvary Church in Orland Park, IL. With over 20 years of combined experience in fields related to education, research, pastoring, coaching and management, Dr. Hersey is driven to help grow both people and organizations for service in God’s kingdom.
Dr. Hersey earned his BA in secondary education: mathematics and Spanish from Calvin College; his MA in biblical archaeology and ancient Near Eastern languages (Summa Cum Laude) from Trinity International University; and his PhD in theological studies: Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern history and languages from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Throughout the course of his education, he received multiple awards for his leadership and academic research.
Dr. Hersey is married to Andra Hersey, who is an LCSW with over 15 years of experience serving in schools and private practice. They are the proud parents of two children. As a family, the Herseys enjoy playing sports, dancing, hiking, and exploring new places.
Dr. Cyndi Parker
Cyndi Parker holds a PhD in theological and religious studies from the University of Gloucestershire and teaches in churches and universities worldwide. She is the creator of Narrative of Place, the host of the Context Matters podcast, and the director of education and conversation at Resurrection Philadelphia. Her desire to help people learn to read the land of the Bible is the core of many of her projects.
Cyndi lived in Jerusalem for five years and continues developing innovative educational trips to Israel, seeking to inspire students of all ages through experiential education. Her research interests include biblical views of place, biblical history, geography, and the correlation between theology and ecology.
Abstracts
Keynote Addresses
“Digging Deeper into the Homestead of an Israelite” with Dr. Oliver Hersey
Jephthah vows to God to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his home if God brings him success. When his daughter is the first one to exit the home, he is shocked and distraught, which raises the question—why is Jephthah making this vow in the first place? Join us as we dig deeper into the archaeological context of the homestead in ancient Israel to better understand both Jephthah’s remarks and other comments referencing homes in the Bible.
“Digging into Context: The Art of Asking Questions” with Dr. Cyndi Parker
We come to a text, especially an ancient text, as strangers. The text invites us into a new world where the people, language, and customs are not intuitive to us, and yet the text is supposed to speak to us, teach us, and form us. How do we span the gap between our modern world and the ancient world? The task can only be done by taking seriously the asking of a deceptively simple question: “Where are we?” Although simple, the question has many layers. Where are we geographically? Where are we historically? Where are we culturally? Where are we literarily? By showing curiosity about the text itself, we grow to understand the message of the text from within its own context first.
Breakout Sessions
I — Project Zero: Developing Strategies for Your Classroom
with Dr. Craig Perrier
In this session, explore Project Zero’s innovative strategies to foster critical thinking and creative expression in the classroom. Discover methods to engage students in deeper learning, develop their problem-solving skills, and promote a growth mindset through project-based activities. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas to integrate into your teaching practice.
II — Dig Deep Oil Lamp Workshop
with Museum of the Bible Educators
Join this hands-on workshop to learn about the fascinating history of oil lamps and their significance in ancient cultures. In this interactive session, you will have the chance to create your own replica oil lamp while exploring the historical, cultural, and religious importance of these artifacts. Leave with a deeper understanding of ancient traditions and a personalized keepsake.
III — Digging and Building Our Roadmap Together: Museum Experiences with Your Classroom
with Sandra Argo
This breakout session will equip teachers to design educational field trips to museums. You will use different types of subjects to create your discovery tool to navigate museums and learn about their precious artifacts that have been dug, researched, and preserved. Collaboration and teamwork are at the heart of this breakout session. You’ll leave this session with your roadmap to be exploring museums!
IV — Engaging Instructional Methods: Student Choice, Student Voice, and Designing Stations
with Dr. Craig Perrier
Participants will learn about and have access to resources to develop and implement designing stations in the classroom. Examples will be given for teaching archaeology, but teachers will be able to apply these methods across disciplines.