Never In My Fondest Dreams

During his years in office, President Johnson fought for great change and progress in the nation. His Presidency was also marked by conflict and uncertainty abroad. These hallmarks of his presidency have come to define how we view the 1960s. 

In 1965, before a Joint Session of Congress, President Johnson said reflected on his time as an elementary school teacher,

“I never thought then, in 1928, that I would be standing here in 1965. It never even occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help the sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over this country.

But now I do have that chance--and I'll let you in on a secret--I mean to use it. And I hope that you will use it with me.”

A young LBJ could never have imagined that he’d hold the most powerful position in the world, able to affect change and improve the lives of the children he'd  taught. The responsibility weighed heavily on him.

Inspired by the opening of the Library’s renovated permanent exhibits, participants will examine President Johnson’s life and legacy through historical documents and artifacts held by the LBJ Library and beyond. The LBJ Library is proud to partner with The DBQ Project to bring this learning into your classroom space in ways that develop historical thinking and analysis.

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library will invite 40 educators to attend their annual educator summer institute from June 22 to June 26, 2026 in Austin, Texas to explore the life and legacy of this consequential figure. The program is open to all educators (PreK-16, pre-service educators, and informal educators) and all subject areas. 

Session topics for this program include: the Great Society, civil rights, the space program, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War.

Program Objectives

• Examine the aspects of the Johnson Administration
• Highlight major accomplishments of the political career of Lyndon Baines Johnson
• Create a document-based lesson using primary sources to examine a historical event or theme of the Johnson Presidency. 

Application Information

To participate in this institute, educators must be selected through an application review process. 

The application for “Never In My Fondest Dreams” opens January 5, 2026 and closes March 6, 2026 at 11:00pm CST.

Participants will be notified of their selection status by April 1, 2026.

Waitlist participants will be notified of eligibility by April 24, 2026.

Applicants will be evaluated for their anticipated application of the content of ‘Never In My Fondest Dreams’ into their classroom instruction and supervisor support. Strong consideration will be given to educators who are 1) new to the teaching field, 2) who come from disenfranchised communities, and 3) rural areas. However, the goal is to have a participant group that is diverse, drawing from througheout the nation, subject areas, grade levels, and can support one another with curriculum connections.

“Never In My Fondest Dreams” is brought to you by the LBJ Foundation and its generous supporters. 

We are excited to provide the following for all accepted participants:

• 4-nights hotel accommodation
• Daily transportation to and from the hotel and LBJ Library each day of the workshop
• Breakfast and lunch each day of the workshop
• Resources relevant to workshop content and discussion
• $250 stipend per participant
• Continuing education hours certificate for 36 CPE hours upon completion of the workshop

Participants will be responsible for:

• Travel to & from their home to Austin, Texas
• Travel to & from Austin Bergstrom Airport to the hotel
• Dinner each day
• Local non-workshop based travel costs
• Any extra hotel nights and/or incurred fees
• A $50 non-refundable registration fee

Speakers for the program include:

• Col. (ret) Gregory Daddis, PhD, Texas A&M University
• Dr. Ashley Farmer, University of Texas
• Keith Hyndshaw, The DBQ Project
• Dr. Max Krochmal, The University of New Orleans
• Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
• Dr. Jeremi Suri, University of Texas
• Mark K. Updegrove, Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation
• Dr. Joshua Zeitz, Historian and Author