Speaker Biography

As founder and principal of Every Museum a Civic Museum, Sarah Jencks works with museums and museum educators to help them find their authentic civic missions and see the possibilities for igniting and enacting the collective impact of museum education in schools and in our democratic republic. She believes that every museum can and should be a civic museum, and science-backed playful learning is crucial to that mission. Sarah is a co-chair of the Educating for American Democracy Community Learning Partners task force and a volunteer leader with the American Association for State and Local History, the American Alliance of Museums, and the Teacher InSites collective. For almost 15 years, Jencks was Director of Education and Interpretation at Ford’s Theatre, where she oversaw school and teacher programs as well as interpretive strategy and digital and on-site exhibitions. She previously taught middle-school history, English, and theater. Sarah serves on the boards of the National Council for History Education and Literacy InterActives and holds an M.Ed. in School Leadership and an A.B. in American Civilization.