Teacher Receives Statewide Recognition in...

Teacher Receives Statewide Recognition for Declaration of Independence Project

Posted on 02/10/2026

Hope Street Academy Teacher Receives Statewide Recognition & $5,000 Grant for Declaration of Independence Project

Congratulations to Hope Street Academy social studies teacher, Mr. Thomas Fulbright, who was recently awarded a $5,000 Teaching America250 Award to create an innovative educational project commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Selected as Kansas’ honoree, Mr. Fulbright and his students will develop a series of traveling banners that explore the meaning and impact of the Declaration across history and into today, helping students connect founding ideals to modern civic life.

The interactive display will travel across Kansas so students and educators statewide can engage with the lessons, and it will eventually have a permanent home at Constitution Hall in downtown Topeka. The grant will also support a statewide student competition this fall, inviting students to present what the Declaration of Independence means to them. Learn more in this Salute Our Heroes segment from WIBW.

Mr. Fulbright w/student

Engage students in the highest quality of learning • Prepare students for responsible, productive citizenship • Inspire excellence for a lifetime

We Support Equal Opportunities

The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program, or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations, and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.