Search

James Loewen taught race relations for 20 years at the University of Vermont; prior to that he taught at Tougaloo College in Mississippi. James W. Loewen is the author of several books, including Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong, Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism and The Confederate and Neo-Confederate Reader: The “Great Truth” about the “Lost Cause.”

Lynea is a pioneer in the field of health and wellness education for youth. Her Yoga Calm program was developed in a behavior classroom in a rural Oregon elementary school over 16 years ago. The program is now being used with tens of thousands of children around the world in diverse settings, such as classrooms, clinics and psychiatric hospitals like the Mayo Clinic.

Michelle Nicola is a Spanish and language arts teacher at Bridger Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, and formerly at De La Salle North Catholic High School. Nicola previously taught courses on equity and social justice at George Fox University. She uses innovative learning techniques and is always ready to turn her classroom into a theater, dance club or soap opera to reach her students. She is also a recipient of the 2014 Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Rhonda Thomason is a National Board Certified educator who taught in public schools for 26 years.

Sumant Bhat became head of the middle school at St. Anne’s Episcopal School—a PS-8 school in Denver, Colorado—in 2014. In addition to his work on curriculum and programming, he leads diversity training and growth for all faculty and staff and the school’s Multiculturalism and Inclusion Committee. Prior to St. Anne’s, Sumant worked at three other independent schools as a teacher, advisor, coach, department chair, dean of middle school, international trip coordinator and admissions staff member. Sumant holds a B.A. in economics and psychology from Williams College and an M.A. in educational

Kellie Bliss has been in the field of early childhood education for over 26 years, primarily as a classroom teacher. She pulls stories from personal teaching experiences, as well as from a parent’s perspective. Being Native Alaskan and living in diverse cities has brought insight and awareness to racial and cultural issues. She studied human development at Pacific Oaks College, where she received her master’s degree. She currently teaches at a local community college in Northern California.

Dr. June Cara Christian brings more than15 years of education experience to her role as a teaching and learning specialist for Teaching Tolerance. She has taught secondary, undergraduate and graduate students, and is an expert in critical pedagogies. Christian holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English literature (from Washington University and Tennessee State, respectively), an M.Ed. with an emphasis in American culture from Washington University, and a Ph.D. in education leadership and policy from University of Missouri—St. Louis. Christian has trained educators across the United States and in