In a country that is deeply divided, the staff at Bruce Monroe @ Park View Elementary School show how to bridge that gap with a schoolwide exploration of students’ history and culture — and a commitment to activism for justice.

Inspired Teaching Demonstration School (ITDS) had a successful inaugural Banned Books Week (September 23rd - 27th). From classroom read-alouds early in the week-long celebration, to guest parent speakers, and culminating in a Banned Book Character Parade, read on to learn more about the variety of ways ITDS championed the freedom to read.

We are deeply grateful for all that Vanessa has done to build a robust network of educators and to help shape the growing initiatives that have become cornerstones of Teaching for Change’s work.

On Saturday, August 17, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) hosted the third annual Social Justice Curriculum Fair at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School.

2024 is Teaching for Change’s 35th anniversary. Over the last 10 years alone, more than 24,000 teachers have participated in our programs and learned ways to teach for change. In the next five years, we aim to reach teachers at 10,000 schools in the United States. We want your help to do it.

DCAESJ’s early childhood working group facilitator, Makai Kellogg, co-wrote a new book, Reflection, Perspective-Taking, and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom.

Bruce-Monroe @ Park View Elementary School (DCPS) devotes six weeks to in-depth study of Black Lives Matter principles.

By NaVonda Marshall
My kindergarten class went on an inspiring field trip to the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast D.C. to experience their exhibit, “To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C.,” which was open from May 19th, 2023 - January 7th, 2024.

Beth Barkley is principled. Beth Barkley is humble. Beth Barkley is caring. Beth Barkley is D.C.’s 2024 Teacher of the Year, or, by her words, her students are. 

On Saturday, August 19, more than 100 D.C. area teachers prepared for the new school year at the annual Social Justice Curriculum Fair. There were curriculum workshops, a chance to meet representatives from community based organizations, and free resources.   

The annual Youth Justice Summit at Capital City PCS in Washington, D.C. included six sessions of youth-led workshops on a variety of social justice topics including book banning, the impacts of gentrification, gun violence, disability and policing, and climate justice. 

As part of the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action at Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS, 4th graders studied the importance of representation in books and the book bans that have been escalating throughout the country since 2021.