Roberto is a Social Studies teacher at Lamar High School, one of the most diverse schools in the country. His professional journey has included careers in theater and the restaurant industry, where he founded a farm-to-table restaurant in California. These experiences inform his classroom practice, where he encourages students to see diversity and inclusion as central to building an egalitarian society. Roberto holds a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Rice University and writes a monthly Substack essay tracing his family’s 500-year history in southern Italy.

Beth has worked in special education for more than 25 years. In her current role as Special Education Facilitator, she supports students, teachers, administrators, and parents in Forsyth County, GA. She has been named Teacher of the Year at the school level and as Middle School Teacher of the Year for the county. She has been awarded educational grants, including the Fulbright-Hays Fellowship to study grassroots organizations in Morocco and Mali, the Forest For Every Classroom Grant to study place-based learning in the North Georgia Mountains, and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia teacher grant to attend a study tour in China.

Rachel teaches 8th grade U.S. History and 9th grade World Studies at Timberline Middle School in Alpine, Utah. She earned her bachelor’s degree in History from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Education from Utah Valley University. Passionate about fostering empathy and understanding through the study of history, Rachel integrates innovative approaches into her teaching. Her recent research explores how AI-powered chatbot simulations can be used to develop historical empathy in students. Beyond the classroom, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Interfaith Council of Metro Detroit, where she worked to build connections across diverse communities.

Julie has led efforts to advance inclusive education for more than three decades. As Director of Equity Curriculum and Instruction at the San Diego County Office of Education, she partners with TK–12 school leaders to strengthen culturally and linguistically responsive instructional practices across 43 districts and 129 charter schools. She also leads program development for the Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE) Institute. In 2024, she served as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State on a short-term literacy project in the Philippines. Her teaching experience spans TK–12, college, and university contexts in the U.S. and internationally – including Argentina, Mexico, Spain, and Taiwan.

Tim is a K-12 Social Studies Instructional Coordinator for Vance County Schools, adjunct history instructor at Piedmont Community College, and President of the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies. He is the Vance County Coordinator for the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust and a co-moderator of SSchat. Tim is the author of *The Complete Idiot’s Guide to World History* and* The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Middle Ages*. Tim has participated in the Harvard Divinity School Religion and Public Life’s Religious Literacy Summer Institute for Educators and NEH Summer Institute: Religious Worlds of New York.

Tracey Kassin, Wilmington High School, Wilmington, MA

Tracey has been a public-school educator since 2001, teaching Social Studies and leading interdisciplinary professional development programs in Wilmington, Massachusetts. She created and teaches a World Religions and Cultures elective that emphasizes inclusive practices and student voice. Tracey is also dedicated to fostering leadership, having developed a Peer Mentor program and served as a long-time Class Advisor. She earned her MA in Teaching History from Salem State University and has participated in several NEH institutes, including the Religious Worlds of New York Summer Institute, which deepened her commitment to connecting history, religion, and civic engagement.

Ellen has taught in the Seattle Archdiocese in campus ministry as an Emmaus retreat coordinator, department chair, community service coordinator, student/faculty mentor since 2010. Currently she is a secondary theology teacher at Holy Names Academy. since. She holds a BA in Religious Studies from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a MA in Teaching with Secondary History and English Language Arts endorsements from Seattle Pacific University. Currently, Ellen is pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Her interests include interdisciplinary curriculum development, religious literacy, social justice, and student-centered religious studies education.

Brittany recently completed her sixth year teaching technology classes for grades 3–8 and has now transitioned to teaching Computer Science and Digital Design for grades 9-12 at Montini High School in Lombard, Illinois. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Psychology from North Central College. Having taught in schools with diverse religious and cultural communities, Brittany is passionate about creating inclusive and welcoming spaces within Computer Science and Technology classrooms. She is particularly interested in exploring how technology itself can be a tool for fostering inclusion and understanding. Outside the classroom, Brittany serves as a Resident Educator for her apartment complex, where she organizes informative and inclusive events for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Chris is a National Board Certified Social Studies teacher with more than 20 years of classroom experience at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland. His innovative work in religious literacy has been recognized with Tanenbaum’s 2016 Adam Solomon Award. Chris partnered with Tanenbaum to design the nation’s first district- and state-level professional development course on religious literacy, reaching more than 400 educators in the Washington, D.C. area. He lives in Rockville, Maryland, with his wife Erika and their two sons.