News and What People are Saying - Holocaust Resource Center of Kean University

Diversity Council News

Pictured from left to right: Janice Kroposky, director Holocaust Resource Center and Diversity Council, Dr. Jeff Toney, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Anthony Pittman, Dean of College of Education, Dr. H. Richard Milner, keynote speaker, Ms. Dwanna Nicole, Advancement Project, Mr. Colin Hogan, President Diversity Council. Photo credit: Kean University

Ms. Dwanna Nicole of the Advancement Project presents on Restorative Justice. Photo Credit: Kean University

What People are Saying

Diversity Council Educators’ Conference “Closing the Opportunity Gap”

Please find NJ.com article:http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2016/01/closing_the_opportunity_gap_ex.html

Individuals anonymously submitted the following quotes:

“The workshop encouraged teachers to engage students and understand their unique challenges. It should promote a discussion about ways to support children of color in the educational system. The conference challenge me to think about how I teach and address race in my classroom.”

“After hearing these two speakers, I feel motivated to make changes in my school environment.”

“The objective was met and my expectations were far surpassed. There were many topics that I will be thinking about for a long time. There are many things a teacher in a mostly white district does not think about with the few minority students they have.”

“All districts should be members of the Kean University Diversity Council. The objectives of the conference were met. All educational stakeholders need to become change agents, community upstanders, understand student crisis, poverty and more.”

“This day is both a professional and transformational day that affirms that we all must continue to educator our peers, our students, our administrators and ourselves about racial educational inequity in the United States.”

“Both presenters were knowledgeable, and engaging. They were thought-provoking and opened my mind. I hope to carry some of what I learned into my daily practices. I was ignorant on much of the material, but I do not want to be.”

What People are Saying

United States Holocaust Memorial Trip

Teacher Feedback

Teachers share their experience meeting with Holocaust Survivors

Teachers met with Maud Dahme, child survivor of the Holocaust:

“I just wanted to thank you so much for your visit to Kean on Thursday night. I felt enriched by what you shared. I went into school the next day and had every child shake my hand. I told them that now they have shook the hand of a person that shook the hand of a Holocaust survivor. You have blessed me and my students. Thank you so much.” – Renee Emami, Irvington Public Schools teacher

“I just wanted to express to you my sincere thanks for coming to our class and sharing with us your personal accounts, memories, fears, and joys of your experience during the Holocaust. Your involvement in so many educational speeches and events is impressive and admirable. Thanks again for giving us the honor of meeting you; it is something I will tell my children about!” – Theresa Sarga, Madison ESL teacher

“It was such a pleasure listening to you at Kean University. The courage, love of life, dignity and sacrifice of Jewish people and their saviors during the holocaust and WWII period brings hope and an example to follow to our young generations. It also reminds us of a need of constant vigilance, so that such periods happen in human history “Never Again”.” – Elena Stoicovici, Elizabeth Teacher & “Teaching Holocaust” student

Feedback from an educator after completing the Post- Baccalaureate Certificate of Teaching the Holocaust and Teaching Prejudice Reduction

“I just want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to take these courses. I learned so much it was a wonderful experience. I will always keep in mind to teach tolerance and respect in my classes. Students need to be aware of what happened to so many innocent people. I hope many of my students will learn a lesson from this tragedy and remember they have to respect every human being no matter where they come from. Also, I will teach them about caring and loving people instead of hating people.” – Angela Valdes, Elizabeth Public Schools teacher

“My visit to the museum was very enlightening, informative and an unforgettable experience. Seeing and hearing all the exhibits and looking at all the artifacts helped tie in so much of what we have been reading and learning about in our course Teaching the Holocaust.” – Margurite Mucha, school nurse in Elizabeth

“The most captivating experience came when Nesse Godin shared her struggle for survival. I personally found it difficult to hold back the tears as I listened to a woman who lost some of the most important years of her life.” – Desiree Villano, Grade 8 Social Studies teacher in Elizabeth

“The exhibit with the shoes was very moving for me, because in my mind I thought: “wow, there must be so many stories to tell with each pair of these shoes.” If these people were here to tell a story, what would they say? Each would probably be a sad tale of suffering and injustice, yet we will never know, because all that is left is a ragged pair of shoes.” -Theresa Sarga, ESL Teacher in Elizabeth

“My experience in visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum left me with a sense of obligation to make changes in my own life and to instill in my practice as a teacher the diligence to continually make students aware of the need to be compassionate.” – Mary Brawley, Cranford teacher

“The Holocaust Museum exceeded my expectations because it was a sensory as well as intellectual experience.” – Chris Riquelme, Franklin Township teacher

“The Holocaust became more than words on a page; the Holocaust became real.”– Dana Hauck, South Plainfield teacher

“I am thankful that I was able to visit the museum with the knowledge that I have attained through this course. Doing so allowed me to piece together words with concrete evidence, resulting in a deeper understanding of events and further compassion for the victims involved in the Holocaust.” – Maria Sottiriou, South Plainfield teacher

“Students must understand that the stories of survival, loss, strength, and prejudice transcend the pages of their literature books and are happening everywhere today.” – Melissa Cook, South Plainfield teacher