By Emily Erickson and Anthony Tamez
In high school classrooms across the country, teachers and students navigate conversations about students’ individual futures at the same time as they try to resist end of year fatigue. Zack Wilson’s class of sophomore English students at Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC) in Washington, D.C., is no different.

By Tamyka Morant, Ph.D.
Our school’s participation in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action began in 2018, when a small group of teachers first engaged students in learning around the principles. By 2019, the work expanded into a schoolwide effort. During that year, we attempted to address all of the principles within a single week. While the experience was meaningful, we quickly realized that the depth of inquiry required for students to truly understand the principles could not be achieved within such a short period of time.

By Zeinab Dembele
Do you remember your first time in a library? Did you ever stop to appreciate the glory around you while walking down the rows of thousands of pages filled with pure magic, knowledge, and the quiet promise of finding yourself somewhere within those pages?

By Tamyka Morant
At Bruce-Monroe at Park View Elementary School in Washington, D.C., mathematics is not only about solving problems, it is about building community. During Matemanidad, a quarter-long interdisciplinary mathematics experience, students in grades pre-K–5 worked collaboratively to design original math games and participate in a school-wide tournament centered on performance assessment tasks.

In late April and early May 2025, Teaching for Change partnered with Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC, International Film Festival for a 14th year to bring filmmakers into D.C. classrooms to share some of their films. 

Pre-K students explore the 13 Guiding Principles of Black Lives Matter at School through storytelling.

Students at Thomas ES were joined by teachers and families for an assembly on March 7, 2025 celebrating Black Lives Matter at School. Students from each grade presented performances about Black activists and staff were honored with awards celebrating Black women.

In celebration of Black History Month and in alignment with the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, Langley Elementary School's fifth-grade class explored Black youth excellence in food and agriculture. With support from the FoodPrints team of FreshFarm and led by Mr. Jamie Phillips, students engaged in hands-on activities that celebrated the contributions of Black innovators to sustainable food systems.

In a country that is deeply divided, the staff at Bruce Monroe @ Park View Elementary School show how to bridge that gap with a schoolwide exploration of students’ history and culture — and a commitment to activism for justice.

In April 2024, Teaching for Change partnered with Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC, International Film Festival for a thirteenth year to bring filmmakers into D.C. classrooms to share some of their films. 

By Marcy Campos
On Friday, May 3rd, Salvadoran author Mario Bencastro visited Houston Elementary School to share his 2021 bilingual book, Un tren llamado Esperanza, or A Train Called Hope, illustrated by Robert Casilla.

On April 9, 2024, 17 students and their teachers took a field trip to the beautiful early 20th-century building on 16th Street in Washington, D.C. The visit was part of a partnership with the school through the DCPS Embassy Adoption Program. Tubman teachers Susannah Schantz and Suzannah Danforth, along with their students, have collaborated throughout the year with embassy staff to bring lessons on Cuban culture and geography to the fifth-grade class. 

Bruce-Monroe @ Park View Elementary School (DCPS) devotes six weeks to in-depth study of Black Lives Matter principles.

Award-winning author and poet Roxana Mendez read her new book at DCPS Tubman Elementary School.

By Vanessa Williams
DCAESJ and EmpowerEd DC’s third annual Unapologetically Black Educator Story Lounge was just as powerful, moving, and joyous as the previously held events.

By Vanessa Williams
There were no fresh baked, chocolate chip cookies in sight. No peppermints being discreetly offered and passed from big to little hands. All of the sweaters appeared to be store-bought, not hand knit. Yet everyone at Smothers Elementary School (DCPS) the morning of their Intergenerational Read Aloud were wrapped in the love, wisdom, and laughter only grandmas can give.

Bruce-Monroe ES @ Park View, a public elementary school in Washington, D.C., engages students, staff, and families in school-wide activities for Black Lives Matter at School. Each year it hosts a celebration of learning called the Marketplace of Knowledge. Assistant Principal Dr. Tamyka Morant explains…

By NaVonda Marshall
My kindergarten class went on an inspiring field trip to the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast D.C. to experience their exhibit, “To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C.,” which was open from May 19th, 2023 - January 7th, 2024.

We were invited back to the strong-knit community at Bruce-Monroe at Parkview for their annual teach-in-style celebration of Central American history and culture.

Beth Barkley is principled. Beth Barkley is humble. Beth Barkley is caring. Beth Barkley is D.C.’s 2024 Teacher of the Year, or, by her words, her students are.