Kimi Eisele is a freelance writer in Tucson. Also a teaching artist, she conducts residences and workshops in writing and dance for children, teens and adults.
Katy Swalwell, PhD, is an assistant professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Her research interests focus on social justice pedagogy in communities of privilege, the teaching of controversial issues in elementary social studies curricula, and the politics of teaching. She is also the author of the upcoming book, Educating Activist Allies: Social Justice Pedagogy with the Suburban and Urban Elite (Routledge, 2013).
Kathleen Melville teaches English, Spanish and playwriting at a small public high school in Philadelphia. A graduate of Swarthmore College, her degree is in English and education. Her teaching career includes two years at a bilingual school in Guatemala City and two years at a small Friends school for students with learning differences. She is also a teaching consultant with the Philadelphia Writing Project and enjoys reading, traveling and spending time outdoors.
Irina Y. Starovoytova, a teacher of English and American Studies at Tambov School #6 in Tambov, Russia, created this retelling of a traditional Russian fable especially for Teaching Tolerance.
Matthew Halpern is lucky enough to teach kindergarten. He left his former profession as a computer programmer and the hustle and bustle of the corporate world eight years ago to pursue his dream of teaching. Receiving his teaching certification through The University of Southern Maine’s alternative certification program ETEP, he then went on to earn his master’s in literacy education. His work in the classroom inspires his reflective writing.
Emily Chiariello is an educational consultant who specializes in culturally responsive standards-based education. Chiariello has nearly two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, professional developer, curriculum designer and education writer. She has worked in public, charter and alternative school settings and in nonprofit organizations such as the Children’s Defense Fund and The Southern Poverty Law Center (namely as a teaching and learning specialist for Teaching Tolerance). Chiariello is the chief architect of Teaching Tolerance’s award-winning K-12 curriculum, Perspectives for a
Jeff McMahon is a teaching artist in New York City public schools. For his own performance work, he has received eight fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Linda Alston is author of the book, Why We Teach: Learning, Laughter, Love and the Power to Transform Lives and recipient of the 2006 Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Rachael Mahmood is a fifth grade teacher in a large school district outside of Chicago. In addition to teaching, she works as an equity ambassador designing and delivering equity workshops throughout her school district as well as in surrounding schools. Dr. Mahmood shares ideas, lessons, and frameworks for culturally responsive teaching with other educators on her YouTube channel and on Twitter. Her doctoral research re-examined parent involvement models to credit the involvement of African American mothers with low incomes. In January 2020, she was featured in the Chicago Tribune
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.
