Originally published in TEACH Magazine, January/February 2025 Issue
By Kate Ehrlich
I am a history/social studies teacher in Frederick County Public Schools, MD, and will soon be wrapping up my 19th year in the classroom. I’ve always believed in the importance of history and that the past has many crucial lessons to teach us. I also care deeply about ensuring that the curricula I teach reflects the diversity of our school and gives each student insights into the experiences of others. During the 2023–2024 school year, I worked with a group of talented student volunteers on a project that reflected these goals.
It all started with an educator learning tour that I took with the Institute for Common Power in the spring of 2023. Over the course of that trip, I was able to visit the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, both in Montgomery, AL. The museum and memorial each highlight key moments in America’s Black history, including the impact of racial terror lynchings.
Kate Ehrlich has been teaching social studies and history for 19 years in Maryland public schools. She was named the Maryland Social Studies Teacher of the Year in 2024.
