As D.C. area educators prepare for the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action (February 2–6, 2026), they are creating empowering spaces for collaboration, reflection, and action. These gatherings offer educators the opportunity to connect with one another, share strategies, and explore how to bring resources offered by Teaching for Change and partner organizations …
Despite the rain and in defiance of censorship and criminalization in education, ICE Raids escalating in Los Angeles, and attacks on LGBTQ+ and specifically trans youth, more than 50 educators, students, families, and community members gathered in Washington, D.C., to take part in the national Teach Truth Day of Action on June 7, 2025. The …
All education happens on indigenous lands. – Dr. Sarah Shear, Keynote Speaker On September 8, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Teaching for Change, and D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice organized an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Curriculum Teach-In that brought together more than 100 educators from the D.C. area (and a few from across …
As part of their community engagement program, every year at Sidwell Friends School, PK-12 students and faculty collaborate with nonprofit organizations that focus on a range of social justice issues. On November 2, 2017, prior to visiting their community partners, Sidwell School faculty provided seventh and eighth grade students with a day to learn more …
The majority of Latino students in DC schools have Central American heritage. However, their history and literature is largely absent from the curriculum. Thanks to support from the DCPS Language Acquisition Office, Teaching for Change offered free workshops on Central America during Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. Faye Colon, coordinator of teacher engagement and professional development, visited classrooms at Ballou High …
This month, all of the 8th grade social studies teachers at Alice Deal Middle School (DCPS) engaged their students in the popular role play, The People vs. Columbus, et al. The lesson, written in the form of a trial by Bill Bigelow of Rethinking Schools, is available for free download on the Zinn Education Project website. The …
By Gabby Arca The news, the news, the news… it hit us all summer. And like most teachers, even when we are taking our time away from school, we think about how things will work or impact our kids—and in happy ingenious moments, maybe a great lesson plan idea. As my co-teacher and I prepared …
Approximately 20 teachers (and ASL interpreters) from across the D.C. metro area met at the Teaching for Change office on Saturday, September 9 to share teaching and activism strategies in response to the repeal of DACA. The event was organized by the new network, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice, and facilitated by Faye Colon. The …
National History Day projects are a wonderful opportunity for middle and high school students to research and learn about topics and individuals outside the typical textbook. We share here the experiences of D.C. eighth grade middle school teacher Beth Kara. Her students’ completed projects on Queen Liliuokalani, Sophie Scholl and the White Rose, Assata Shakur, Muhammad …
When fifth grade Spanish literacy teacher Cesarina Pierre realized that her nearly two decades of teaching Caribbean students in New York City Public Schools would not fully translate to teaching Central American students in Washington D.C., she sought resources from Teaching for Change. Pierre asked Teaching for Change, a longtime partner at the school, to …
Tag: DC area stories
2026 Black Lives Matter at School
Posted: January 1, 2026 by Aileen Tapia
As D.C. area educators prepare for the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action (February 2–6, 2026), they are creating empowering spaces for collaboration, reflection, and action. These gatherings offer educators the opportunity to connect with one another, share strategies, and explore how to bring resources offered by Teaching for Change and partner organizations …
Category: 2025, News Tags: #BlackLivesMatter, Black Lives Matter, DC area stories, DCAESJ
2025 Teach Truth Day of Action March in D.C.
Posted: June 26, 2025 by Allison Acosta
Despite the rain and in defiance of censorship and criminalization in education, ICE Raids escalating in Los Angeles, and attacks on LGBTQ+ and specifically trans youth, more than 50 educators, students, families, and community members gathered in Washington, D.C., to take part in the national Teach Truth Day of Action on June 7, 2025. The …
Category: 2025, Home, Home Feature, News Tags: DC area stories, DCAESJ
2018 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Curriculum Teach-In
Posted: September 19, 2018 by Allison Acosta
All education happens on indigenous lands. – Dr. Sarah Shear, Keynote Speaker On September 8, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Teaching for Change, and D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice organized an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Curriculum Teach-In that brought together more than 100 educators from the D.C. area (and a few from across …
Category: 2018 Tags: American Indians, DC area stories, DC teachers, NMAI
Middle School’s Students Learn From the History of D.C. Activism
Posted: November 28, 2017 by Mykella
As part of their community engagement program, every year at Sidwell Friends School, PK-12 students and faculty collaborate with nonprofit organizations that focus on a range of social justice issues. On November 2, 2017, prior to visiting their community partners, Sidwell School faculty provided seventh and eighth grade students with a day to learn more …
Category: 2017, News Tags: DC area stories
Teaching Central America Workshops in D.C.
Posted: October 5, 2017 by Allison Acosta
The majority of Latino students in DC schools have Central American heritage. However, their history and literature is largely absent from the curriculum. Thanks to support from the DCPS Language Acquisition Office, Teaching for Change offered free workshops on Central America during Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. Faye Colon, coordinator of teacher engagement and professional development, visited classrooms at Ballou High …
Category: 2017, News Tags: Central America, DC area stories
Columbus on Trial in D.C.
Posted: September 26, 2017 by Allison Acosta
This month, all of the 8th grade social studies teachers at Alice Deal Middle School (DCPS) engaged their students in the popular role play, The People vs. Columbus, et al. The lesson, written in the form of a trial by Bill Bigelow of Rethinking Schools, is available for free download on the Zinn Education Project website. The …
Category: 2017 Tags: DC area stories
Creating Monuments of Our Classroom Rules After Charlottesville
Posted: September 25, 2017 by Allison Acosta
By Gabby Arca The news, the news, the news… it hit us all summer. And like most teachers, even when we are taking our time away from school, we think about how things will work or impact our kids—and in happy ingenious moments, maybe a great lesson plan idea. As my co-teacher and I prepared …
Category: 2017, News, News Articles Tags: DC area stories
D.C. Area Educators Collaborate for DACA Rapid Response
Posted: September 13, 2017 by Allison Acosta
Approximately 20 teachers (and ASL interpreters) from across the D.C. metro area met at the Teaching for Change office on Saturday, September 9 to share teaching and activism strategies in response to the repeal of DACA. The event was organized by the new network, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice, and facilitated by Faye Colon. The …
Category: 2017, News, News Articles Tags: DC area stories
National History Day Projects
Posted: August 29, 2017 by Allison Acosta
National History Day projects are a wonderful opportunity for middle and high school students to research and learn about topics and individuals outside the typical textbook. We share here the experiences of D.C. eighth grade middle school teacher Beth Kara. Her students’ completed projects on Queen Liliuokalani, Sophie Scholl and the White Rose, Assata Shakur, Muhammad …
Category: 2017, News Tags: DC area stories
Fifth Graders Explore Latino Immigration at the Anacostia Museum
Posted: July 11, 2017 by Allison Acosta
When fifth grade Spanish literacy teacher Cesarina Pierre realized that her nearly two decades of teaching Caribbean students in New York City Public Schools would not fully translate to teaching Central American students in Washington D.C., she sought resources from Teaching for Change. Pierre asked Teaching for Change, a longtime partner at the school, to …
Category: 2017, News, News Articles Tags: Central America, DC area stories