By Megan Ferenczy, Director of Education, Virginia Holocaust Museum
This summer the Virginia Holocaust Museum along with valued partner Longwood University, is holding its annual, Alexander Lebenstein Teacher Education Institute: From Context to Classroom (TEI).
Named for Holocaust Survivor, Alexander Lebenstein (OBM) who was committed to Holocaust education, the Institute looks to educate teachers who currently teach or would like to teach about the Holocaust and genocide.
There are two classes, June 27 and 28 and July 11 and 12. This will be the Museum’s first in-person teacher workshop since 2019 and there has been an overwhelming response, with each class full.
Donor-funded travel scholarships have helped to make the class accessible to educators from all over the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are proud to say that this summer over 100 teachers will be joining us from 49 counties and cities across Virginia.
During, From Context to Classroom, students will listen to historian-led lectures to learn historical context, best practices and resources that they can use in the classroom when teaching about the Holocaust.
Sessions will also explore the lessons that can be learned from studying this history and its connection to students’ lives today. During the class teachers have the opportunity to meet and hear from Holocaust Survivor Halina Zimm. (Pictured above is a phone of Survivor Halina Zimm surrounded by a group of teachers following her remarks on June 28>
Meeting those that have experienced history that educators are teaching in the classroom helps to personalize the past and is hallmark of the TEI.
Museum staff and Longwood University faculty are looking forward to welcoming the educators this summer to Richmond.
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