How has participating in the Teaching for Black Lives study group impacted you so far? Are you noticing any changes — in yourself? Your practice? Your awareness? by Julia Salcedo

2026-07-21 23:06:23 UTC

This has reinforced for me how important it is to collaborate. This work needs to be done in community. (Cynthia)

2026-07-21 23:07:19 UTC

It is inspiring to come together with a community of teachers for social justice. I feel I have more curriculum and pedagogical tools because of this workshop! I am excited to share what I learned with my faculty colleagues at one of our Professional Development Research Sessions to continue the campaign. With gratitude, Shara Cherniak

2026-07-21 23:07:21 UTC

I have been inspired by all the educators attending these classes.

2026-07-21 23:07:47 UTC

I so appreciate the opportunity to hear from people around the country in various roles in education. Perspective is everything. I have appreciated the openness and honestly during the breakout sessions and the freedom to be open and honest myself. This is a great resource going into the new school year and this cohort has given me the courage to move forward with foundational truths regardless of the current trends in my community.

2026-07-21 23:07:57 UTC

I think that this study group has shown me how important community is. To hear different perspectives in a safe space and challenge my own thinking about history has been awesome. The collaboration and experiences from different people who have been so willing to share has really helped me expand my own thinking

2026-07-21 23:08:39 UTC

I’ve learned about a plethora of different culturally responsive materials that rethinking schools offers.

e20229418 — 2026-07-21 23:09:20 UTC

(Lisa York) This study group has been an incredible opportunity to reinforce many of the ideas and reflections I've previously had about the need for criticality and challenging white supremacist dominant narratives in history and curriculum. I've especially appreciated moments to share ideas in breakout groups and learn from other individuals who are taking part in these sessions, learning from their brilliance and insights. I've also really appreciated our resources, including the subscription to Rethinking Schools! One of the courses I teach is American Literature, and I already have several ideas for how to incorporate some of the resources we've gotten into the classroom, whether with poetry, jigsaw activities, primary sources, etc. I am grateful for this time together and look forward to continuing connections with one another as we strive for collective action.

2026-07-21 23:09:31 UTC

Whereas I came in with a sense of heaviness and hopelessness, I now feel encouraged. It is moving to see so many educators from all over the country working towards the same goal and standing firm on the right side of history. This study group has provided me with tools and resources that I can share with my (homeschool) students and fellow (homeschool) teachers.

2026-07-21 23:10:03 UTC

Angie Rollet: This has reinforced for me how important it is to teach everybody's truth. This doesn't mean that I know everyone's truth, but that it is not ok to teach a single story the way I was taught. I always start the year with WEB DuBois' purpose of history - it grounds the class and we come back to it throughout the year when things get uncomfortable. I feel like I do a good job with Reconstruction, but I have not done so with the American Revolution. I am so grateful for the resources shared with us, not having to use hypotheticals because the primary sources are out there. I have reshaped my American history class in my mind so that I can better anchor my class to indigenous people and Africans brought to the new world.

2026-07-21 23:10:05 UTC

This study group has made me realize how intentional we need to be about addressing these topics. It is not just the responsibility of history teachers. Every teacher has a role to play. It has also reminded me that these are conversations we need to keep having with each other, not just with our students.

2026-07-21 23:10:09 UTC

Sometimes I get angry at how I was cheated out of my own learning when I was in elementary/secondary school. Almost like I've been part of the cast in the movie The Truman Show. It does motivate me to make sure I teach the truth.

2026-07-21 23:10:24 UTC

I am feeling much more empowered to teach the truth. The reading/discussion about teaching Reconstruction and the conversations have shown me just how often facts are undermined or distorted. I am grateful to be part of a community that is willing to face the truth and support one another as we lean into this work.

2026-07-21 23:10:40 UTC

With my pre-service educators, I am excited to implement ideas from the Teaching for Black Lives book and Rethinking Schools journals. I think the collection of articles, resources, research, etc is timely, important, and provides opportunities to learn from marginalized and oppressed folks' lived experiences. I am hoping my students will share these resources and knowledge with their future students. (Emily)

2026-07-21 23:10:46 UTC

I have noticed changes in my own practice, particularly in being more intentional about creating opportunities for students to connect historical and contemporary issues while reflecting on their own roles in advancing equity and justice. The discussions have also encouraged me to think more critically about how institutional structures shape student experiences and how I can continue advocating for practices that support belonging and success.

2026-07-21 23:11:13 UTC

I am interested in incorporating many aspects of what I've learned in my 8th grade social studies: (1) Origins of #BLM at School Week of Action, (2) 1619 v. 1776 on multiple topics (Meaning of Freedom, Democracy Mattering; (3) What Resistance Looks Like highlighting SNCC to name a few. I will also offer to facilitate a #BLM Study Group for the K-8 teachers at my school. Dara

2026-07-21 23:11:23 UTC

It has been a gentle reminder that we must continue to advocate for our students despite the outside variables that want us to mainstream teaching and learning

2026-07-21 23:11:30 UTC

Being a part of this community has impacted the way I go forward with teaching and learning. The time spent reading, discussing, and listening has informed my thinking and being in this world.

2026-07-21 23:11:38 UTC

I think it has broadened my perspective. I especially was moved by the discussion Black girls in the classroom and the Mother's letter to her son. I understood the pain that she experienced and the hope she needed to have for her son. I feel that being inclusive and creating a safe for classroom for Black students ultimately benefits all students because it reaffirms everyone's humanity.

2026-07-21 23:11:48 UTC

It has been very enlightening to be part of this study group. I feel like I will have more compassion for my students and even myself. Grace is needed now with all of the struggles, bias, and stereotypes that can come in our classrooms. I want to show up for every student as best that I can by following up with them, reaching out to parents/ guardians, and establishing a relationship with them within my teaching and learning but also with understanding and enriching my classroom with their experiences and ability to share without fear or judgment.

Candace Blake

2026-07-21 23:11:56 UTC

Participating in this group has been an empowering and inspiring experience for me, honestly, even life-changing, because I have experienced racial and cultural silencing repeatedly as a Black educator in Virginia public schools. As a new teacher, I had to navigate challenging environments without the support I needed. I tried bringing forward ideas for racially and culturally inclusive curriculum to help Black students feel valued, seen, and empowered, but unfortunately those efforts contributed to a lower evaluation score and being isolated from my department.

This group is helping me understand how to build meaningful discourse around why the African American voice and perspective are a necessary part of public education. It reminds me that educators across the country are having the courage to engage in these conversations in their schools, and that gives me hope that Virginia can, too.

2026-07-21 23:12:16 UTC

I am shifting my allyship to activist.

2026-07-21 23:12:29 UTC

I loved “A Message from a Black Mom to Her Son”, and everything that this mother wants for her son from education. We're already back at work for professional development, and today we worked on our collective Why. One of the questions was what do we want for our students. I used her thoughts to frame my why for what I want our students to get out of our school. Nicole Russell

2026-07-21 23:13:04 UTC

One thing that has stuck-out to me from the readings is how impactful and memorable moments of racial shaming while at school are for people. These experiences, understandably, continue to make people wince and feel shame as the trauma re-plays even when they're long into adulthood. Even our most confident students may not be able to understand on their own that they are not at fault and there is nothing wrong with them. I hope to help (or find someone more competent and capable to help) my Black students process these racist moments so they don't internalize them and feel shame but rather know that the educator in that situation is wrong.

2026-07-21 23:13:07 UTC

This study group has allowed me to hear different perspectives. I am pleased to know that so many people from different backgrounds are thinking about how to serve children and families and to provide a truthful account of the nation's history. I look forward to learning how people apply their new knowledge and to sharing how I use the information. My participation in this study group has sparked many ideas for implementing inquiry stations on history and student empowerment.

2026-07-21 23:15:27 UTC

This has allowed me to continue showing up in spaces for community and perspective. I am taking away creating spaces for others to be able to have deep conversations, such as the ones here in this forum. Thank you to everyone whom I had the pleasure of getting to know and learn from.

2026-07-21 23:17:12 UTC

I joined this book to learn more about the Black experience in USA so that I could be a more informed individual and a better teacher. I wanted to learn how I could collaborate with other content areas in order to incorporate social justice content into my Digital Applications class. Participating in this study group has given me the opportunity to learn about the foundation of systemic racism in our country, social justice movements, and the black experience. Working in small groups has allowed me to learn about the experiences of other teachers all over the country. I leave this study group with ideas to implement in my course.--Jovita Gill