Reflections From Educators
Reflections from Summer Institute 2024
The Value/Power/Impact of Individuals During the Holocaust
Education is a tool and a weapon? How are you going to use it? - Teacher Responses
- I thought these events/presentations were excellent. Most of the information was new to me. I always enjoy listening to other educators who do what I do and push me to learn and do more.
- Thanks for two days of knowledge, collaboration and continuing the path of lifelong instruction.
- Again, thank you to Linda, Ellen and Nahid – this was the most educational and most resourceful seminar I have gone to. Thank you so much!
- Thank you so much for your work that you pour into our lives. You make us better teachers, individuals and our students as well.
- I would thank the team who made this possible. I can tell all the care and love you put in this institute. I am very thankful for what I have learned.
- Dear Linda, Ellen and Nahid - 3 more who show the power, value and impact of the individual today!
This has been my second experience at your Institute, and every year I walk away with great hope, a full heart and amazing resources. Although I’d say it’s easy to win your way into an English teacher’s heart by gifting her bags of books, you would have regardless. You are truly a dynamic TRIO, and your enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge is so very appreciated! Thank you for fueling my teacher heart and passion, and for bringing a wonderful group of people together!
- Linda,
This note recognizes the outstanding program you directed and implemented along with your team. Your signature on your email, “Education is our best hope against hatred!” The Gutterman Family Center provided the attendees with speakers and activities supporting The Center’s mission.
I am compelled to share my thanks, appreciation, recognition, and thoughts focused on the June 17 and 18 conferences as demonstrated by the new learning, sharing, and collaboration among the participants, which was outstanding. The speakers were engaging as they supported the many events to consider for their home schools. The table activities opened essential discussions focused on important concepts such as human rights, history, and how to implement focus on justice, tolerance, and hatred, as students at the middle and high schools follow Broward County Schools with vetted literature and teaching procedures.
Providing the faculty with Holocaust-related books was appreciated by all. I heard some say they “… hit the lottery” and would share the books with others at their schools. Another well-developed, meaningful activity was providing books for classroom use. Discussions at the tables were willing to share and exchange books as they discussed the titles.
The videos opened discussions and were also meaningful to the participants. That is what professionally organized conferences should implement, which was also done well.
The program experience was organized and essential and should be required for all faculty. Today, we are surrounded by hatred focused on Jews (and other religions) on educational campuses throughout our country. Professionally developed programs, as provided through your office and leadership, should be supported financially and announced to the school leaders in the community.
“Never again” can only be an active concept when Education is our “best hope against hatred.” I am confident that the participants in the events provided in the last two days will make significant progress with their educational community.
If I had to make a recommendation for future workshops, it would be to have more of them. Otherwise, everything was flawless.
Thank you for organizing, directing, and leading these important initiatives.
With many thanks and appreciation for the work you and the Center provide, I am ….
Gratefully,
GG, Senior Instructor, College of Business
Business Communications Program
Florida Atlantic University
"I cannot end this week without thanking you for making me a better teacher in teaching the Holocaust. I say this to share with you about my students. I had three 7th grade students, and 2 6th graders who did their History Fair project on the Holocaust as I was teaching my 6th graders, I would share with the 7th graders what I taught that day. One of my 7th grade students won the Special Award from Florida Holocaust Education. I screamed when they called out his name and at the same time proud of myself knowing I have reached my students in their understanding of the Holocaust. I couldn't let this week go by without sharing this joy with you both."
Thank You for All You Do to Educate Us,
Martin County Middle School Teacher
Field Study to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum February 2024
“I learned that the Holocaust is very complex. You can get different perspectives based on the time, place and person waging their experience.”
“To teach more respect for differences and acceptance of all. I plan to research the art created in the concentration camps and tie in the emotional healing that art has, the self-expression of the prisoners, and how art was still needed to capture history and tell their story.”
“I am interested on more Professional Developments on the Holocaust. I’m the cohort leader for my 9th grade world history teachers. I am also working to continue to expand and improve my lesson plans. I learned a lot this weekend and really enjoyed it.”
“I really appreciated being able to have had this experience. I learned so much and I met some wonderful educators with whom I plan on staying in touch with and collaborating with. I am very grateful to have had this experience. Thank you!”
“I can’t thank you enough for this amazing opportunity. Linda is a wealth of knowledge and I’m so grateful for this experience as well as all the programming available to educators through FAU.”
“I have learned from you all and want to continue learning more.”
Summer Institute 2023 Teaching the Holocaust Through the Arts, Music and Literature
"Incredible seminar with great resources, contacts, and leadership. I am looking forward to sharing this with colleagues and future programming."
"Thank you so much for this opportunity! It was such a great institute and a great bunch of resources and topics to bring back to my school and classroom. I loved hearing from different teachers to hear what they did in their classrooms and how it can be incorporated in other classes."
"I loved how today we were given numerous ways to implement Holocaust and planning. I enjoyed how our organizers allowed other professionals to show refreshing ideas with accuracy to teach more about the Holocaust to our children and encourage critical thinking. Thank you for this wonderful day!"
"Thank you for teaching the teachers so that we can teach the next generation about the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and how to reach them when they see discrimination and hate to be upstanders."
"I loved how today we were given numerous ways to implement Holocaust and planning. I enjoyed how our organizers allowed other professionals to show refreshing ideas with accuracy to teach more about the Holocaust to our children and encourage critical thinking. Thank you for this wonderful second day!"
"This three-day program has been unforgettable! I have learned so many useful things and it was so jam packed and full of different facets of Holocaust education."
"Thank you for bringing such rich programming and resources to both public and private school educators!"
"Thank you so much for this opportunity! It was such a great institute and a great bunch of resources and topics to bring back to my school and classroom. I loved hearing from different teachers to hear what they did in their classrooms and how it can be incorporated in other classes."
