Fellows in Focus – April 2022
Rachel Worrall
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach US History II and a full year Holocaust elective at Egg Harbor Township High school (my alma mater).
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I got involved with JFR through my sponsoring center, the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University. I am a member of their dual credit consortium and they felt it would be a great opportunity to attend the summer institute.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
Many people from my center in our dual credit consortium had attended both the summer institute and advanced seminar and spoke so highly of their experience. I knew it would be great chance for me to further my knowledge in the Holocaust and make me a better educator as a result.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
This is a hard question to answer because the entire summer institute was amazing, but what I have used a lot more this year with my students is a focus on the rescuers (and their stories) and the immigration issues faced by Jews. These stories have made the Holocaust more relatable to my students.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
Obviously, the lectures were great and extremely important, but I really loved meeting so many people from all over the country who teach the same thing I do and having the opportunity to share resources with each other. And Stanlee’s little gifts of chocolate were also much appreciated, one chocolate addict to another!!!
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
The Lerner Fellowship has impacted my life in so many ways. It has enriched my professional life by allowing me to share more knowledge with my students that I didn’t know before I attended the summer institute, which in turn, makes my lessons better. And when that is better, my relationships with my students are better, which we all need after the odd 2 years we have had in education!
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
As I said in my assignment after the summer institute, this was one of the most rewarding opportunities of my life. I learned so much information in such a short period of time, that is was overwhelming, but in a good way. It really was one of the best experiences of my life and I look forward to attending an advanced seminar in the future!
Kyle Funk
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach AP Government and Introduction to Psychology at Oak Hills High School
How did you get involved with the JFR?
After participating in my local Holocaust organization (HHC – Holocaust & Humanity Center) for a few years I received an email about the week-long course of study at Columbia University. The HHC approved me to go, and I attended the course in 2010, and wanting to learn more I attended the European Study trip in 2012.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
After studying the Holocaust at my local Holocaust Center, I wanted to learn more, and after reading about the week-long course at Columbia University and what it offered I could not pass it up. After attending the course and learning more about what the organization does, I became hooked.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
I have learned so much which makes it hard to narrow down the many lessons. I will say everyone who survived the Holocaust needs to have their story told and remembered so future generations do not forget the numerous lessons from this historical period.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
My favorite memory is learning from the most profound scholars, especially Professor Robert Jan Van Pelt, and the entire 17 day trip through Germany and Poland. It was a learning experience of a lifetime.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
Becoming a Lerner Fellow has made me more aware of how people treat each other and how hate should not be tolerated among humans. I use many of the lessons I have learned being a Lerner fellow in my classroom by having students respect themselves and each other. I teach students it is alright not to agree with everyone, but to respect others’ points of view.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
Being a Lerner Fellow does not stop once the classes and trips are over. The lessons learned and the information gathered need to be shared with future generations. I loved every minute of the classes and the trip, along with the camaraderie I shared with my other Lerner fellows and staff. I cannot thank the organization enough.
Patrice Weaver
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
The short answer is that I teach in the entire State of Georgia, and the subject I teach is Holocaust Studies.
The long answer is that I work with the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. The Commission is a secular, non-partisan state agency that strives to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and promote public understanding of the history.
My main duty is to provide workshops, trainings, and resources to the educational community of the State of Georgia on the teaching of the Holocaust.
Additionally, I work with survivors, and the children of survivors (second generation speakers), who are willing to share their experiences and stories with students.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
A colleague at the Commission, Judy Schancupp, shared her experiences with the JFR with me. I assisted her in creating a presentation on resistance and we used resources Judy received from the JFR. Those resources, especially the poster series, are perfect for use with both students and teachers.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
In addition to the high quality of resources the JFR makes available on their website, I was profoundly moved by their mission and the work they do providing financial support to rescuers.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
The readings and lectures caused me to deepen my own reflection about issues that affect us today. Understand the power of extremist ideologies, the expansion of group-targeted hatred and violence and the abuse of power and propaganda are just as relevant now as they were 80 years ago.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
Being able to attend Zoom lectures given by the world’s most eminent Holocaust scholars was a privilege, and, if I can fangirl geek-out a little, an absolute thrill!
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
For most people their knowledge about the Holocaust begins and ends with Auschwitz. Between the incredible readings that were assigned and the lectures and discussions we participated in via Zoom, I realized that no matter how much I think I know about this subject there is so much more to learn, discover, and share with others. Being a Lerner fellow cements my responsibility to continue this work of educating about the Holocaust and what it means to be a citizen in a participatory democracy.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
I am very grateful for the opportunity be part of this amazing and dedicated group of educators.
Megan Pankiewicz
I have been teaching for 20 years; High School English and Holocaust Literature. I am a PhD student at Gratz in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Being an Alfred Lerner Fellow is truly an honor and the fellowship was an unbelievable learning experience; learning from the “giants” in the field and being a member now of a community of Holocaust Educators who want to better humanity is a privilege. I am forever grateful.
