Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice

The Teach-Ins

The Teach-Ins are inspired by Brown's Slavery & Justice Report's recommendation to “use the resources of the University to help ensure a quality education for the children of Rhode Island.” This FREE two-part series is an opportunity for local K–12 educators to learn the history of Black and Indigenous folks in New England while creating and modifying lessons on the subject to bring back to their classrooms.

Breadcrumb

The Teach-Ins

The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice was founded in 2012, inspired by the recommendations of the Slavery and Justice Report. That same report encouraged Brown University to play a role in helping to “ensure a quality education for the children of Rhode Island”—including through professional development for teachers. We’ve taken that call to heart. We understand that supporting students within our community means supporting the educators in their lives. This means not only supporting classroom teachers, but also youth-based organizations, instructors, and mentors. This FREE two-part series is an opportunity for local K–12 educators to learn the history of Black and Indigenous folks in New England while creating and modifying lessons on the subject to bring back to their classrooms.

Save the Dates!

Upcoming Teach-Ins will be held on February 7, 2026 and March 7, 2026. Stay tuned for registration information.

Educators from the Teach-In leaning into the conversation with our visiting scholars — Educators from the Teach-In, leaning into the conversation with our visiting scholars. Photo by Liz Sepulveda.

A peek into what’s going on at the Teach-In. Photo by Kiku Langford McDonald.

Goals of our Professional Development

Sharing Updated Scholarship on History

Our workshops focus on content knowledge, with a strong emphasis on Black and Indigenous perspectives of the past. We know educators already bring their pedagogical expertise to the table, but historical scholarship is constantly evolving, and education policy shifts right alongside it. It’s tough for any educator to keep up with all the new research and the changes it brings to what and how we teach. That’s where we come in: we’re here to help educators stay current with the latest scholarship and shifting narratives.

Educator Resources

Are you an Educator looking for resources, curriculum, professional development, or a community of educators? Then, this is the page for you. Learn about opportunities to hear from scholars, community members, and other educators while also finding a space to create workshops, lessons, and events.

Connecting Educators with Scholars and Experts

At our Teach-Ins, educators have the opportunity to learn directly from scholars and experts on a wide range of topics, including the Thanksgiving myth, maritime history, the American Revolution, and more. These sessions include panels, lectures, Q&A Sessions, and open conversations, creating a space for rich dialogue and deeper understanding.

Building a Network

We aim to connect educators with the Simmons Center and with each other. Our goal is to build bridges across the many sectors where educators work. Too often, we find ourselves creating programs, events, or curricula in isolation. However, we all benefit from having thought partners—people to share ideas with, receive feedback from, and possibly even collaborate with. We're working to create that space for connection.

Create and Share

As knowledge is gathered and relationships grow, it’s vital that our Teach-Ins also serve as a space for educators to create. We want to offer opportunities for educators to put what they’ve learned into action—whether that means drafting lesson plans, units, syllabi, activities, programs, workshops, professional development sessions, or events. And we don’t want those ideas to stay on the page. We’re committed to finding ways to support educators as they move their work from vision to reality.