Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach World Geography, World History, and US History at Lancaster High School in South Carolina.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I was nominated by the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust in the Spring of 2021 to participate in the Summer Institute for Teachers.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
Speaking with other Fellows, scholars, and JFR leadership during the programs that I have participated in has further solidified my desire to continue my path of Holocaust education.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
I participated right after completing my Master’s thesis where I referenced research from many of the scholars who presented at the Summer Institute, so having the opportunity to hear them speak “in person” was truly life-changing.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
I want now, more than ever before, to continue my education, expand my own knowledge, and visit the locations that were so crucial during the Holocaust. I want to then take that knowledge and experience to further build meaningful lessons that I can share with my students and other educators.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
The programs that the JFR offer are invaluable. The resources and the scholars that participate are world-renowned and offer unique perspectives on a multitude of Holocaust-related topics. I am extremely thankful for all learning opportunities provided by the JFR.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I serve on the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust Executive Board as Treasurer and also serve on the Charleston Jewish Federation REMEMBER Program and was chosen to represent our state at the JFR.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
I saw that the historians and the pedagogy that JFR presents at the Institute were very interesting and very well put together to help me be a more informed teacher – I especially appreciated receiving the fantastic videos of the reunions which I had never had the opportunity to use before with my students. It is so important for my students to see that there were righteous people during the Holocaust that helped in spite of the great risks.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
I would say it would have to be either Robert Jan van Pelt as the historian or Roman Kent as the survivor – I learned so much from both of them – I still use my notes from van Pelt and tell Roman Kent’s story to my class every year.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
I have many outstanding memories about the Institute, but one that stands out would be going to “South Pacific” on Broadway with the Polish teachers. It gave us time to bond outside of the Institute as well as share teaching strategies and discuss what we were learning at the Institute.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
I attended the Institute rather early in my work with Holocaust education and it inspired me to get involved not only locally in South Carolina, but around the country and the world. I have dedicated myself to helping my students find their voices to speak out when they see injustice. I have also worked with teachers to help them with best practices in teaching the Holocaust.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
The teaching of the righteous in regards to Holocaust education is often overlooked – but I think it is one of the most important aspects to teach – it helps students to realize that they can make a difference in the world.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I currently serve as Director of Education for the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC), so I work with the public, community organizations, and educators and students of various grades and subjects. In the years before taking this position, I taught all ages, from elementary to college.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
In 2006, when I was a middle school history teacher in Houston, Holocaust Museum Houston generously sent me to summer training with the JFR.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
The quality and credentials of the scholars involved in the program are so impressive. When I trained in 2006, the presenters included Debórah Dwork, Robert Jan van Pelt, Samuel Kassow, Susan Zuccotti, Henry Feingold, Nechama Tec (whose memoir I had coincidentally just read), and others. You don’t find this level of scholarship in every program out there. Having a scholar like Peter Hayes involved in putting together the JFR reader further testifies to the academic rigor of the program. I also appreciate the efforts that Stanlee and her staff put into staying in touch, and I typically see and catch up with her at a conference each year or so (before the pandemic, at least).
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
Debórah Dwork’s framing of Poland in the Holocaust brought necessary clarity and balance, and Robert Jan van Pelt’s focus on the implications of language choices in the classroom (i.e., being careful with terms like “extermination” and “factories of death”) was impactful.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
Again, I fondly recall how accessible and personable the presenters were when they visited. I remember having lunch with Nechama Tec, and how she made an effort to get to know us and our concerns and goals as educators.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
Learning from and interacting with such outstanding academic figures greatly influenced my teaching. Robert Jan van Pelt’s emphasis on the impact of language played a role in shaping how I approach Holocaust education and later helped motivate me to complete my dissertation on Holocaust distortion in adaptation. As well, some of my connections through JFR have proved interesting in unexpected ways. I traveled to JFR with Wendy Warren, who was then a fellow Houston teacher. These days, Wendy is the Director of Education at one of the four Holocaust museums in Texas, so our paths cross frequently, and we get to put what we learned to use in our collaborations. Moreover, upon completion of the JFR program, I shared a cab to the airport with one of the speakers. She shared that she had just returned (with Stanlee) from Hungary, where they had interviewed the brother of Zsuzsanna Ozsváth; I already had plans for the following week to meet with Zsuzsi, whom I later studied under.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach at Middle Township High School and Atlantic Cape Community College. I also teach through a dual credit consortium with Stockton University. I teach History (various) including Holocaust Studies. I also teach business law at the college level.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I was introduced to JFR by my college dual credit partner, Stockton University’s Holocaust Resource Center, and in particular my dear friends Gail Rosenthal and Steve Marcus.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
The Holocaust scholars and content drew me to the program. The content I learned through JFR is unparalleled with any other Holocaust educational experiences I have had in my career.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
We had the true pleasure of hearing from MANY incredible scholars. I think Michael Brown really impacted me because he made me see how easily ordinary people could be led to commit horrific atrocities when hate is left unchecked. I also enjoyed Alexandra Zapruder and her discussions about the diary excerpt in her book “Salvaged Pages.” Not only did I enjoy reading her book, but I have since obtained a classroom set for my students.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
I have two favorite memories. First and foremost is meeting Roman Kent. His testimony touched my heart and changed my life, especially his story of Lala, his dog, which I still read to my class each year. Second, are the lasting friendships I have made. I still keep in touch with several JFR Lerner fellows, and we share content among other things. One of the fellows in a teacher from Poland who I enjoyed meeting and staying in touch with. She gives me such a great perspective on education, the world, and Polish history.