Amy Harlan
Amy Harlan is a middle school language arts teacher and leader at East Jessamine Middle School in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Mrs. Harlan’s approach to education goes beyond traditional classroom boundaries. She believes in providing her students with real-world experiences that enhance their understanding of history and the world through experience it first hand. Her integration of travel into the curriculum is not merely an annual field trip, but a carefully planned and integrated component that enriches the learning process. Every year Mrs. Harlan takes the 8th grade Jaguars to Washington, DC where they spend 5 days exploring museums, touring monuments, and experiencing life in the nation’s capital.
Why are you passionate about student travel?
From a young age, my parents sparked a deep love for travel within me. Whether it was hiking the trails of Yellowstone as a toddler or navigating the busy streets of New York City as a teenager, they always brought me along for the adventure. Traveling with their guidance all those years gave me the confidence to eventually venture out and travel on my own. In college, I studied abroad for two summers, and those experiences were truly transformative. Immersing myself in different cultures with my peers taught me not only about the world but also about myself. I want my students to experience that same sense of discovery and growth—to realize just how much the world beyond our doorstep has to offer.
What is a major highlight from any of your student travel experiences?
Leading students through travel experiences gives me the opportunity to connect with them on a deeper, more personal level. Each year, during our 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C., we have had the privilege of taking part in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. One of the most meaningful moments for me during our trip is always visiting my dad’s grave in section 47 at Arlington. Surrounded by the whole group, I’m able to share with my students the story of the man who shaped me to be who I am today. It becomes a powerful moment to help them understand, through a personal lens, the importance of honoring and thanking our veterans.
What is the greatest lesson you or your students have learned from your trips?
The greatest lesson my students and I have learned from our trips is that history is more than just dates and facts—it’s real, emotional, and deeply human. Standing in the places where history happened, whether at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, gives students a new perspective and helps them connect on a personal level to the stories they’ve studied in class. For me, it’s a reminder of how powerful experiential learning can be. Watching students grow in empathy, curiosity, and understanding—while realizing how the past continues to shape our present—is the most meaningful outcome of these trips.
How do you try to tie your travel experiences back into the classroom?
Our trip is filled with meaningful stops that directly connect to what students have learned throughout their three years at East Jessamine Middle School. From studying the Space Race in sixth grade and the Holocaust in seventh grade to exploring the Civil Rights Movement and American history in eighth grade, Washington, D.C. brings these lessons to life in powerful ways. Experiencing history firsthand deepens their understanding and appreciation, and it’s clear just how much it sparks their curiosity and desire to learn even more. While on the trip and once back in the classroom, we build on these experiences through reflections and circle discussions to help students process what they saw and connect it even further to their learning.
From the nominator:
What qualities make this nominee, both as an educator and travel leader, deserving of this award?
Mrs. Harlan puts her students and their experience first. The trip she creates is always about them. She’s organized, fair, and well-liked by her students. As long as I’ve known Mrs. Harlan, she’s been an 8th grade teacher planning the 8th grade class trip to Washington, DC. This past year she was moved to 6th grade by her administration. Despite the move to a different grade level and not knowing the students, Mrs. Harlan continues to plan the end of year trip to DC because she doesn’t want the students to miss out on this once in a lifetime experience and opportunity. She is a remarkable educator.
Photo courtesy of Amy Harlan.
