Fellows in Focus – January 2022
Fellows in Focus - January 2022
Rachel Povlacs
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I taught early and modern U.S. History for 16 years at Carroll High School in Ozark, AL, and just recently transitioned to our school’s Instructional Coach in 2019-2020.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I had attended a one-day Holocaust workshop with the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center over the years as well as utilized their educational resources. Through their communications outreach, I found out about other continuing professional development opportunities, one of which was the Summer Institute with the JFR.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
I was very much drawn to the level of scholarship they would be providing during the Summer Institute as well as the small collegial learning environment. The JFR Summer Institute also provided exposure to new pedagogy and the opportunity to learn in a professional atmosphere.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
It is hard to pinpoint one topic in particular, I walked away with so much new Holocaust scholarship and that empowered me to go back to the classroom with a more empathetic approach and new skills to introduce that information to my students. There are a few personal stories of struggle, heroism, and choice that still stand out to me that I always wove into my teaching. I believe that our students need to hear the good of the story and the impact of that legacy.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
The JFR took great measure to make us educators feel welcome, respected, and valued professionally. The educational and personal experiences I had participating with the JFR have been unmatched.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
Professionally, I took bolder endeavors in the classroom and made greater efforts to expose my students to more project-based learning activities than I had in the past. Subsequently, we had the opportunity to virtually speak with a Holocaust survivor thanks to the BHEC and my students took ownership of planning and hosting their traveling exhibit. Personally, I keep in touch with several teachers from my Alfred Learner Fellows cohort and it’s just great to see what each other are doing in our respective schools.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
Anytime there is an opportunity, I promote the professional development I had with the JFR and how my fellow educators can seek professional development by partnering with the JFR, I am still so grateful to have had this opportunity.
Shana Stein
Where are you from?
I am from Montclair, NJ.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I am both a Social Studies teacher at Montclair High School (MHS) and an adjunct at Kean University as a part of Kean’s Holocaust Resource Center. At MHS, I teach a U.S. History course, and a semester elective called “Holocaust, Genocide, and Modern Humanity,” as well as electives in Women of the World and Cultural Pluralism. At Kean University, I teach two graduate courses called “Teaching the Holocaust” and “Teaching Prejudice Reduction” to New Jersey educators.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I first became involved with the JFR when I was nominated by Kean University’s Holocaust Resource Center to attend the Summer Seminar in 2017.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
The Summer Seminar expanded my knowledge of Holocaust scholarship beyond my expectations. The lectures were delivered by renowned scholars I never expected to be able to meet with and learn directly from. They presented their scholarship at the highest levels while truly showing their utmost respect for teachers. The scholars participated in our discussions and brainstorming sessions about how to apply their material in our classrooms, and they were genuinely interested in how we teach about the Holocaust and genocide.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
The JFR Summer Seminar was the perfect combination of lectures with world-class scholars and meeting and spending time with like-minded and impressive Holocaust educators, as well as Holocaust survivor, Roman Kent. The other seminar participants were wonderful. The experience opened my eyes to the depth of Holocaust and genocide education across borders and at all levels of education. I made wonderful connections with people from all over the world who are doing important work in this field.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
Being a Lerner Fellow was an important step on my journey as a Holocaust and genocide educator. The seminar deepened my understanding of the Holocaust, introduced me to motivated Holocaust educators, and opened my eyes to the possibilities of extending this work. It also bolstered my commitment to the importance of education as a powerful means of transforming our world.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
Working with both high school students and teachers from all over New Jersey provides me with a unique perspective to be in the classroom with young people, filling in the gaps in their knowledge, while also helping teachers build the confidence and skills to take on Holocaust education in their own classrooms. I was recently appointed to the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education. In this role, I am working to revise and update New Jersey’s Holocaust curriculum, which will be circulated throughout the state. I have already applied the knowledge gained from the JFR Summer Seminar to this project.
Margaret Berry
Where are you from?
I am from Aurora, Illinois a western suburb of Chicago.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach 8th grade Social Studies at John F. Kennedy Middle school, Plainfield Consolidated School District 202.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I had the extraordinary opportunity to become involved with the JFR through the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, Illinois. I was nominated by their outstanding Education Department to participate in 2020 and that was cancelled due to the Covid Pandemic, and then had the opportunity to participate online in 2021, also due to Covid.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
I was drawn to JFR because I was very curious about the rescuer testimony and the support the JFR provides to them. As an Educator, I have concentrated on survivor testimony to teach the Holocaust in recent years. I think the self-sacrifice and courage of the rescuers is such a powerful teaching tool for the age group that I teach. The lessons to be learned about caring for another human being, at the risk of life for the rescuer and their families is simply phenomenal.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
The history of antisemitism was most compelling to learn about, because I think even most students and adults think that antisemitism was really just during the Holocaust, not before or even after for that matter. I was fascinated by the medical information, because this was really brand new for me, and I think my students will be fascinated by the material as well. I have also been using the information that I have learned to connect to my unit of Immigration, and the roadblocks that so many faced in trying to escape the Nazi persecution before WWII. I will also be using the book Salvaged Pages: Yong Writers’ Diaries of the Holocaust from Alexandra Zapruder because I feel like these readings connect agewise with my students in 8th grade.
I guess I have more than one compelling thing that I learned over the course of this week.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
I loved connecting with other teachers and scholars, even though through zoom, for the week. I think any time there is a group of teachers together there is so much learning that goes on. I think that it was so awesome to pick the brains of the scholars during their presentations, it was so engrossing. I also learned so much from my fellow educators. It is so empowering to be surrounded by people who are like minded.
Learning Yiddish from Stanlee over the week was great too!
It was also touching to get to zoom with Roman Kent.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
Professionally, I feel very prepared to present to my students about the Holocaust and many other topics that connect to the Holocaust. I wish I had more time to cover the topics more in depth.
Personally, I have such a curiosity to continue my education about the Holocaust and be able to share this with students and teachers alike. People always think that it is a morbid curiosity, but I try to enlighten them and tell them there are so many stories of perseverance and kindness and spirit, it is impossible not to be interested in the topic.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
I want to thank the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education for nominating me to attend this prestigious program. I also want to thank the JFR and its supporters for the quality programming and networking opportunities that they have provided. I would also like to thank the cohort of teachers that I worked with, you are amazing educators! A special thank you to Stanlee and Dara for all of your hard work to organize and provide such quality
Branda Anderson
Where are you from?
I grew up in Eagle River, Alaska (just outside of Anchorage.) I currently live in Woodinville, Wa.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington. I teach 10th grade World History, 12th grade Law/Civics, and a 12th grade Holocaust and Genocide Studies course.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I first heard about JFR through my ongoing work with the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle. In 2012 the Center gave me the opportunity to apply for and attend the JFR Alfred Lerner Fellowship program in New York.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
The first draw for me to the organization was the desire to learn more about rescue and rescuers during the Holocaust so that I could deepen only my understanding of the topic in order to provide high quality learning opportunities for my students. Also, the high level of scholarship and learning that JFR provides educators was a very bring draw for me. I loved the opportunity to grow and be challenged as a Holocaust educator with colleagues from around the world by some of the best scholars in the field.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
I learned so much as a fellow, so distilling it down to the most compelling thing is rather difficult. That being said, one of the major takeaways for me that also had a huge impact on my classroom, was Nechama Tec’s work on rescuers. To this day I introduce my students to her framework on the shared characteristics of rescuers during the Holocaust. These discussions are powerful and important for me and my students.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
There are two favorite memories for me. First, the relationships I was able to build and keep with educators from around not only the United States, but the world. These relationships challenged me to grow in my teaching and understanding and are still highly important to me today. The second was the opportunity to learn from, and in some cases share a meal with, the most influential scholars in the field in the field of Holocaust studies.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship had impact your life, both personally and professionally?
Personally, the fellowship served as a great jump start for me as I began my pursuit of my Masters in Holocaust Studies the same year, I attended the fellowship. It created a great academic foundation for me as I deepen my study and grew as a professional. Professionally, I have used what I learned in my classroom to improve my pedagogy for students buoyed by the amazing resources provided by JFR. I have also been able to take my learning and share with other local educators through teacher trainings.
Anything else you like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
My experience with JFR was transformative for me as an educator. It deepened my understanding and knowledge about every aspect of the Holocaust. Having the opportunity to learn from the best scholars in the field has made me a better teacher and served to propel me to continue to seek more and more learning opportunities. To this day, my time at the Lerner Fellowship remains one of the most influential and important parts of my journey as a Holocaust educator.
