Fellows in Focus – November 2021
Fellows in Focus
Shawn Riggins
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I have the privilege of teaching History at Cumberland County TEC, a full-time vocational high school in South Jersey. Currently I teach the senior elective courses AP United States Government and Politics, Human Rights and Genocide, and Sociology.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I became involved with the JFR through its connection with the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University. As a graduate of Stockton University, previously interning at the Holocaust Center, I have attended their workshops and am a member of his High School teacher dual credit consortium.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
The JFR provided fantastic opportunities to connect with Holocaust and Genocide educators from around the country. Sharing strategies and insights from fellow educators I believe is a great way for all involved to better their students and classroom practices. The JFR helped provide in-depth and meaningful discussions that teachers can bring back to their classrooms to challenge their students and community with the big questions stemming from the Holocaust.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
Teaching at a career and technical school, I was amazed at how many connections I was able to make in the lectures and workshops that I could apply to the programs my school has. I am able to take what I learned at the JFR to focus my curriculum to address the different career and technical programs my students are a part of. In this students can understand how individuals in their fields acted during the Holocaust and reflect on the importance of their own choices as world events unfold around them.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
The depth and context of all the presentations reminded me once again that teachers must always be lifelong learners. We cannot be content in “”just covering the basics”” in Holocaust education. In our practice we must show students the power of their choices in shaping the world around them, just as the choices of those in the Holocaust impacted events in both positive and negative ways. The conversations with fellow educators helped build a community to share ideas and best practices.
How do you feel the Lerner fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
The Lerner fellowship reminded me again of the importance of Holocaust and Genocide education, starting with students but also for society at large. The work we do in having students find their voices in asking the challenging questions of the Holocaust has greater impact beyond the classroom. Students must understand how choices have helped shape history. Not just choices of the powerful, but the choices of ordinary individuals. Seeing this lesson through the lens of the Holocaust can help students understand the importance of their own choices in the world.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
As a member of the South Jersey Holocaust Coalition, our organization benefits from connections with other organizations like the JFR in order to better inform our own education outreach programs. It is important as educators to help our school and local communities learn about the challenging questions of the Holocaust in order to foster a more understanding and empathetic society.
Angie Gottesburen
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach in Lone Jack [MO] at Lone Jack High School, I am the librarian and I teach high school English.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I got involved with the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous when I was selected by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education to attend the Alfred Lerner Fellowship Summer Institute.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
I was interested in the Jewish Foundation for Righteousness’s mission as well as aware of the phenomenal education opportunities that would be provided at the summer institute.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
I learned so much from JFR. The most compelling thing I learned at the institute was that less than half of one percent of the population of Europe helped to rescue their Jewish neighbors. I also found the information provided about the Holocaust in the East riveting, as my knowledge on that topic had been sorely lacking.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
My favorite memory would have to be when Mr. Roman Kent shared his story of surviving the Holocaust. You could hear a pin drop in the room as everyone was so riveted in hearing his words. I can well remember his words that he said, “Don’t let my past be our children’s future.”
How do you feel the fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
The fellowship has to be one of the most important experiences I have had in my life, both personally and professionally. The program profoundly influenced me both in and out of the classroom. I was empowered and proud to meet fellow educators that shared my passion for teaching about the Holocaust. Even though I attended the fellowship program several years ago, I am still friends with many of the Lerner fellows to this day. The vital information that was shared by such renowned historians led to a deeper understanding of the history of the Holocaust that I have been able to apply to my lessons and help my students understand not only historical facts, but the “whys” about the Holocaust. Why did it happen? Why did so many get so little help? Why did the few people that rescued the Jews do so at such great personal risk? I not only learned so much, but my heart was touched by being with so many that not only realize we all share a common humanity, but that are driven to pass on that humanity and compassion to our students through the lessons of the Holocaust.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
The fellowship made me even more committed to teaching the Holocaust. I recently sought out community and school leaders and approached them with taking our entire school to see the international exhibit “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” After securing their support, I organized a field trip for all of our students in grades 7-12th grade. We recently brought 347 students and 28 educators to see the exhibit that was featured at Union Station in Kansas City in October.
Every year I have my senior students participate in the White Rose Student Research Contest sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. Along with my co-teacher Mrs. Bailey Appleton, we have had 28 students place as the top ten finalists in the last five years. Last year, four out of the five finalists were from our class, with one of our students receiving first place! This was quite an accomplishment, particularly in light of teaching during a global pandemic! I am always so proud of these students, not only for their hard work in writing their essay, but also for their understanding and growth through their study of the Holocaust. After writing their essay, these students have a deeper empathy for their fellow man, understand that the spark to survive under insurmountable odds can never be extinguished, and that we must always speak out to denounce hatred.
Amy Corey
Where are you from?
I am from Grayslake, Illinois, which is a far northern suburb of Chicago
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach 8th grade Social Science
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I got involved with JFR through the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, Illinois.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
The organization and its programming appealed to me because I think it is extremely important to know as much as possible about the Holocaust, including what happened afterward to both the survivors and the Righteous.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
The most compelling thing I learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow was the complexity of how to help the Righteous after the Holocaust, given how many people were afraid to acknowledge what they did because they were afraid of how their friends and neighbors would treat them as a result of acknowledging their roles in helping Jews.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
There are two favorite memories I have from my participation in JFR programming. One would be hearing Roman Kent’s story and spending time with him. The other would be seeing the Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away exhibit with Dr. Robert Jan van Pelt.
How do you feel the fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
The fellowship impacted me personally and professionally because prior to this experience I had not given as much thought as I should have to what happened to the Righteous after the Holocaust ended so I am enjoying learning more about these incredible people and incorporating their stories into my unit when I teach the Holocaust.
Anything else you’d like to share with the JFR’s followers and supporters?
I am extremely grateful to the JFR for everything they do for the Righteous and for educators and museums. This is such an important element of this tragedy, and unfortunately, it often seems to be overlooked. The JFR’s efforts help to make sure that these incredible people are not forgotten.
Steve Benton
Where are you from?
I was born into a Marine Corps family in Ft. Belvoir, VA but have lived most of my life in Alabaster, AL.
Where do you teach and what subject do you teach?
I teach in Alabaster (in the school district I grew up in) and after 16 years of teaching 6th grade history (American from The Industrial Revolution to the present), this is my first year in 7th grade (Civics and Geography). Even though I no longer teach history (for now) I still draw on the things I learned through BHEC, JFR and other passionate educators to teach my students valuable lessons about empathy and community.
How did you get involved with the JFR?
I became involved in JFR through the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center. The BHEC was my go to resource in teaching the Holocaust and really fostered my passion for teaching it. At the recommendation of the center, I applied for a scholarship to the JFR’s Alfred Lerner Fellowship in 2014. I was awarded the scholarship and attended the program that summer.
What drew you to the organization and its programming?
My introduction to JFR opened a whole new perspective on the Holocaust and teaching in general. I was drawn to, not just the people in the organization itself, but to the educators I met and their shared passion for teaching the Holocaust.
What was the most compelling thing you learned as an Alfred Lerner Fellow?
The most compelling thing I learned in becoming an Alfred Lerner Fellow, was the scope of the resources and approaches for teaching the Holocaust. Through JFR I learned of numerous other organizations that aided and improved my teaching, not just about the Holocaust but in general. This program not only reignited, but rewired my passion for teaching.
What is your favorite memory from your participation in JFR programming?
Of course, meeting the wonderful people through the program is my fondest memory. I particularly value the opportunity to meet Holocaust survivor Roman Kent.
How do you feel the fellowship has impacted your life, both personally and professionally?
As I have said, this program literally, reignited and rewired my passion for teaching. It changed the way I approached my teaching, especially on the Holocaust. Growing up the only lessons I heard on the Holocaust focused on the physical aspects of it, and when I began teaching that’s the way other teachers taught. But I learned through JFR that focusing on the causes and the reasons and more social aspects of the Holocaust has a bigger impact on students even as young as 11. Historical empathy must be taught, and teaching it changes lives.
