A “diverse” summer activity?

Jamie Lott-Jones, a Watchung Hills social studies teacher, is dedicating time this summer to working on the Kean University Diversity Council. The Council promotes the development of just and caring individuals in a diverse democratic society by providing professional development for educators and activities for students on multicultural and other diversity issues. Ms. Lott-Jones is on the Executive Committee of the Council and attended a retreat on June 25^th where members worked on communications issues. After starting a Twitter account and revamping their Facebook page, they decided to start a blog to be linked to their webpage. Ms. Lott-Jones was asked to write the first blog entry on the best way to teach 9/11. Her focus for teachers was based on her realization that incoming high school freshman are a generation that has no personal remembrance of the events of September 11^th and how to deal with this challenge. She is also planning on having a mother who lost a son in the World Trade Center Towers come to speak to her classes in order to help students relate personally to these historic events.

The WHREA is proud to count among its members teachers like Jamie Lott-Jones - she has received various awards for her activities and for bringing history and culture alive in the classroom for her students. We are not surprised that she is spending her time during the summer to develop and enrich both her students’ experience and the important work that the Diversity Council at Kean University is doing – thank you Jamie!