RV Teacher Sara Shelley Honored with Humanitarian Award

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – Rancocas Valley Regional High School (RVRHS) social studies teacher Sara Shelley draws about 150 students a year for her Genocide Studies elective. This high level of interest is a testament to Shelley’s approach to teaching such a heavy and complex topic. She aims to form more of a learning community, giving students who are often eager to learn about and drive change around issues of human rights a forum for sharing opinions and ideas. The family of Holocaust survivor Jack Zaifman and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education recently recognized Shelley’s outstanding teaching with the Jack Zaifman Humanitarian Award.

This annual award is presented to an educator who has demonstrated outstanding efforts in teaching the Holocaust and genocide in their classroom, as well as issues of bias, prejudice, bigotry and bullying. Shelley is one of two educators selected this year for the award. She will receive $500 and a classroom set of Jack Zaifman’s book, “Tailor Made for Life.” She will formally accept the award on June 5 during the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education’s quarterly meeting.

“We are lucky to have an educator of Sara’s quality helping our students understand the intricacies of genocide,” said Jean Marie Seal, supervisor of family & consumer science, fine & performing arts and social studies at RVRHS. “She brings a passion to her teaching that makes our students want to take the course and learn about this important subject matter. Many of her students are inspired to join organizations outside of the classroom, like our Action for Africa Club, to be sources of change.”

Shelley, who is also the 2017-18 Rancocas Valley Regional High School Teacher of the Year, said that she gains inspiration from the talented teaching staff at RVRHS. Her husband, Jonathan Freitag, is among her colleagues in the Social Studies Department.

Shelley helped develop many of the lesson plans for the Genocide Studies elective with former RVRHS colleague Leah Chadwick, who initially proposed the course. Shelley also teaches 9th grade World History and a Modern Africa elective, which gives her yet another opportunity to engage students in discussions about human rights and ‘upstanders’ versus ‘bystanders.’ Well-traveled, Shelley brings an authenticity to her teaching of all three courses as she recounts her own experiences in many of the countries discussed.

Shelley lives in Moorestown, N.J., with her husband, Jonathan, and her children, Xavi and Sosi. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.