Professional Development for Teachers
Schedule a professional development workshop for your school, district, or group
Suitable/Adaptable for teachers of grades 5-12
The Holocaust Center for Humanity offers a variety of interactive professional development opportunities for teachers of grades 5-12. Individual sessions range between one hour and two and a half hours and can be combined for half-day or full-day programs. All sessions can be facilitated in person or virtually.
All professional development programs are offered free of charge to schools and groups in Washington State. Donations to support these programs so that we can continue to offer them for free are always appreciated. You can make a donation to support professional development.
For more information or to schedule a program, please email Paul Regelbrugge, Director of Education, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Branda Anderson, Teaching and Learning Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Attend a general workshop
Throughout the year the Holocaust Center organizes teacher workshops on various topics. Almost all sessions are free to attend and clock hours are available. See what's coming up!
MENU OF WORKSHOPS
Meeting the Moment: Sessions Applicable for All Teachers
Navigating Discussions about the Israel-Hamas Conflict (and avoiding Islamophobic and antisemitic language) (60 mins)
The conflict involving Israel and Hamas poses daunting challenges for educators, students and their families. In this engaging session, educators will be empowered to facilitate safe, respectful conversations about the ongoing conflict by better recognizing Islamophobia and antisemitism, and using and applying precise, nuanced language that humanizes; avoiding generalizations, stereotypes and inaccuracies.
Antisemitism Today: Unraveling and Addressing Its Complexities (60-90 minutes)
Antisemitism is at its highest levels in this country than at any other time in recorded history. We believe the best way to combat antisemitism is through education. This highly engaging workshop helps educators AND students become grounded in the history of antisemitism – including the Holocaust – up to and including its myriad contemporary manifestations. Participants will also gain tools both to recognize and confront antisemitism.
Navigating Critical Conversations and Tough Topics (60-90 minutes)
The polarized nature of our current society can make educators hesitant about bringing potentially controversial issues into the classroom. We fundamentally believe that this is a time not to avoid those topics and conversations, but to lean into them, in order to model in our classrooms what a healthy democracy looks, sounds, and feels like. Teachers equipped with clear goals, academic resources, and discussion strategies that foster civil discourse can turn their classrooms into model democracies.
Centering around Facing History and Ourselves resources, we will model how to build a reflective and honest classroom that is rooted in identity and belonging, we will examine critical histories and their enduring legacies, and we will practice strategies to design and hold these spaces for students and community members.
Funding for this program was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. 
Sessions to Support Holocaust and Genocide Instruction
Foundational Lesson Plans for Teaching the Holocaust in a Secondary Classroom (45-60 minutes)
Participants will be introduced to one or more of the essential foundational lessons, The Pyramid of Hate, Universe of Obligation, and/or teaching about the Historical Roots of Antisemitism. One or more of these lessons are strongly recommended to help establish the purposes for student learning about the Holocaust, but also about any other ensuing, difficult history.
Teaching the Holocaust in a World History Classroom Practical Applications (45-60 minutes)
Participants will gain insight and lesson plans to help them integrate the study of the Holocaust into their World History course. We will together unpack three essential foundational lessons, The Pyramid of Hate activity; the Universe of Obligation, a Facing History lesson; and teaching about the Historical Roots of Antisemitism. The presentation will also include contextual background related to the role of nationalism, economic crisis, and the fear of communism in the development of the Holocaust in Europe.
Teaching the Holocaust in a United States History Classroom Practical Applications (45-60 minutes)
Participants will gain insights and lesson plans to help them integrate the study of the Holocaust into a US History Course. The presentation will be introduced to a brief history of antisemitism in America as well as classroom-ready lesson plans about the history of antisemitism. Participants will then explore the lesson plan “The Refugee Crisis and 1930s America” from the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum and Facing History and Ourselves.
Teaching about The Historical Roots of Antisemitism (45 minutes)
Participants will learn about the historical roots of antisemitism in Europe. The presentation begins with an exploration of the persecution of Jews in the ancient world, it will then move on to a discussion on the development of Christian anti-Judaism, and finally an examination of the evolution of antisemitism from a religious-based prejudice to one rooted in “racial” pseudo-science. The course concludes with an overview of a classroom-ready lesson plan to teach students about the Historical Roots of Antisemitism.
Teaching about the Holocaust through ELA (90 minutes) | Teaching about the Holocaust through Social Studies (90 minutes)
ELA teachers will consider teaching and learning objectives for teaching about the Holocaust built on the best practices foundations; applicable guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust, SEL, Safe Classroom and Differentiation; and Strategies for teaching recommended literature will be modeled and shared. In addition, we will spotlight new, classroom-ready lessons on teaching about the Holocaust using poetry, diaries, and music.
History/Social Studies teachers will learn about key “deep dive” lessons applicable to US and/or World History classes. Such lessons and interactive activities may include The US Response to the Holocaust; The Challenges of Escape; Antisemitism; Nazism and Jim Crow; and Examining the Stages of Genocide/Other Genocides.
Teaching about Identity and the Holocaust in an ELA Classroom (60-90 minutes)
This session will build upon the lessons and ideas presented in “Teaching about the Holocaust through ELA.”
ELA teachers will be introduced to the Facing History and Ourselves Exploring Identity through Literature and Life Lesson Plan. This lesson engages students to consider the social and cultural factors that shape identity – for themselves, others and characters in texts they are reading. Participants will also learn about approaches and lesson plans for teaching about the historical roots of antisemitism and other aspects central to understanding Jewish identity in their courses.
Teaching about Identity and the Holocaust in a Social Studies Classroom (60-90 minutes)
This session will build upon the lessons and ideas presented in “Teaching about the Holocaust through Social Studies.”
History/Social Studies teachers will learn about key “deep dive” lessons applicable to US and/or World History classes. The session will begin with an exploration of the Facing History and Ourselves lesson plan Understanding Identity, which gives students the opportunity to identify the social and cultural factors that shape identity, as well as the ways in which we define ourselves and the ways we are defined by others. Participants will then be introduced to the Echoes and Reflections Pre-War Jewish Life Lesson Plan.
Tools, Tips and Resources to Teach Hard Histories in Elementary School (60-90 minutes)
The state of Washington’s Holocaust Education Law “strongly encourages” teaching about the Holocaust and other genocides in grades 6-12. It is NOT recommended to teach explicitly about the Holocaust in earlier grades. However, this session focuses upon strategies and resources, including recommended texts, lessons, etc., that enable and empower teachers to safely address key underlying concepts and themes leading up to students’ more likely readiness to directly confront and apply such concepts and themes in upper grades and in their lives. Among many other things, this session focuses upon empathy and identity, the obligation to protect others, rules and fairness, allyship and much more!
Presenters
Paul V. Regelbrugge is the Director of Education for the Holocaust Center for Humanity. A former attorney, Paul then taught in the inner cities of Chicago and Buffalo, as well as in Spokane and Kent, Washington. Paul is a USHMM Teacher Fellow, Powell Teacher Fellow, Alfred Lerner Teaching Fellow, The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) Fellow, and a Gonzaga University adjunct professor. He is also the author of The Yellow Star House: The Remarkable Story of One Boy’s Survival in a Protected House in Hungary, and co-author of the graphic novel, More Than Any Child Should Know: A Kindertransport Story of the Holocaust.
Branda Anderson is the Teaching and Learning Specialist for the Holocaust Center for Humanity. Branda previously taught World History and Senior Social Studies at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo for 19 years. She holds a Master’s in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College. Branda is a USHMM Teacher Fellow and Mentor, Alfred Lerner Teaching Fellow, Powell Teacher Fellow, Defiant Requiem Teacher Ambassador, and 2023 University of Washington Department of History’s Outstanding Teacher of High School History. She is pursuing a PhD in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College.
Questions?
Email Paul Regelbrugge, Director of Education: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Branda Anderson, Teaching and Learning Specialist: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
State Requirements - FAQs
Legislation Strongly Encouraging Holocaust Education in Washington
FAQs
RCW 28A.300.115 and 116 (Passed April 19, 2019)
After unanimously passing the Senate and the House, Holocaust Education Bill SB5612 was signed by Governor Jay Inslee Friday, April 19, 2019. This bipartisan bill, the result of a partnership between the Holocaust Center for Humanity and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, is a significant step towards ensuring that every student in our state has access to quality Holocaust education. The bill has been codified as law in two statutes, RCW 28A.300.115 and 116.
“In addition to this study being a reaffirmation to never again permit such occurrences, studying this material is intended to examine the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and intolerance and prepare students to be responsible citizens in a pluralistic democracy." – RCW 28A.300.115
This Holocaust education law has created a partnership between the Holocaust Center for Humanity and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Together, we:
- Developed best practices and guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust and genocide;
- Are conducting statewide professional development for educators, teaching them how to apply these new standards;
- After two years, at the end of the 2022 school year, our Center will report on the effectiveness of this legislation and make recommendations for the future of Washington State Holocaust education.
Is the Holocaust now mandatory to teach in Washington State?
No, not yet. RCW 28A.300.115 states, “Every public middle school, junior high school, and high school is strongly encouraged to include in its curriculum instruction on the events of the period in modern world history known as the Holocaust, the systematic, German state-sponsored persecution and murder of Jews and other innocent victims by the Nazi regime and its collaborators between the years 1933 – 1945.“
What does this law do?
“Beginning September 1, 2020, middle, junior high, and high schools offering this instruction must follow the best practices and guidelines that are developed.” This bill reiterates the importance and value of Holocaust education in all middle and high schools. It also creates a required set of guidelines and best practices for educators offering Holocaust education and provides professional development opportunities throughout the state for teaching the Holocaust. Look for upcoming workshops in your area and through your school district and at www.HolocaustCenterSeattle.org.
- September 2019-August 2020 – The Holocaust Center for Humanity and OSPI developed guidelines and best practices for teaching the Holocaust in Washington State. Workshops and professional development opportunities are offered throughout Washington to introduce these new guidelines and best practices, provide information on how to access resources, and support educators who are teaching about the Holocaust.
- Starting September 2020 –Educators teaching the Holocaust are required to follow the guidelines and best practices as set by the Holocaust Center for Humanity and OSPI. Workshops and professional development opportunities will continue to be offered throughout the state. 1:1 consulting is available to support teachers through the Holocaust Center for Humanity.
- July 2022 – November 2022 – The best practices and guidelines will be reevaluated along with the impact of this legislation. At that time a mandate for Holocaust education in all Washington State middle and high schools will be considered.
Is there a set curriculum that I need to teach?
No. The Holocaust Center for Humanity, in partnership with OSPI, has created guidelines and best practices. These include a wide variety of lesson plans targeted to different grade levels and subjects, and flexibility for teachers to tailor lessons to their needs. There are even proposed outlines for teaching about the Holocaust, no matter how much time you have, what grade level, and for both Social Studies and English Language Arts. The Holocaust Center for Humanity already has numerous programs and resources in place to support teachers, including 1:1 consultation to help teachers develop lessons and units that fit their classroom’s needs and goals.
How can the Holocaust Center for Humanity help me?
The Holocaust Center for Humanity has many free programs and resources including Holocaust Teaching Trunks; a Speakers Bureau (remote and in-person); a museum (with scholarships for field trips -- virtual and in-person); an annual Writing, Art and Film Contest; and professional development throughout the year. The Holocaust Center also offers experienced staff to assist teachers with planning their units and lessons and offer suggested resources and activities. Visit www.HolocaustCenterSeattle.org to learn more.
How can I support the teachers in my school/district?
We can come to you and/or present via Zoom or Teams. Arrange for a workshop for your educators – contact Paul Regelbrugge, Teaching and Learning Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Share this information with your teachers. They can find online resources and more information at www.HolocaustCenterSeattle.org.
Which states mandate teaching the Holocaust in schools?
As of May 2021: Arizona, Arkansas (effective 2022), California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.
I have more questions – who should I contact?
Please email the Holocaust Center’s Director of Education, Ilana Cone Kennedy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We welcome your questions and look forward to working with you.
Speakers Bureau - FAQs
FAQs about hosting a member of the Speakers Bureau
Who are the speakers?
Our Speakers Bureau includes Holocaust survivors, survivors of other genocides, and Legacy Speakers. Legacy Speakers are children and grandchildren of survivors, liberators, and rescuers (Righteous Among the Nations). Learn more about our speakers at the “Meet the Speakers” web page. Please note that we cannot guarantee specific speakers, but if you believe any individual(s) will fit with your group's studies or background, please list their names in the respective field in our request form.
What does a Speakers Bureau presentation consist of?
Speakers share their memories, or those of their family members, of the Holocaust (or for several speakers, the Rwandan genocide) with students. These stories may include experiences of discrimination, segregation, separation from and loss of family, life in hiding, ghettos, concentration camps, liberation, and immigration. Although many speakers are well informed about some aspects of the Holocaust outside of their own experiences or those of their family, speakers are not necessarily historians. Their presentations are offered as personalaccounts and are accompanied by PowerPoints with primary sources, photos, maps, and video clips.
Why should I book a speaker?
Outcomes for learners are overwhelmingly positive and meaningful. Thanks to surveys from the 2022-2023 school year, we know that 90% of student respondents agreed that hearing a speaker helped them better understand the Holocaust’s impact on individuals. 91% of students felt it was important to learn about the experiences of Holocaust survivors who came to Seattle.
Meanwhile, 100% of teacher respondents said the presentation met their expectations, and 100% also said the speaker was effective in presenting their story in a clear and informative way.
How long is a presentation?
Speaker presentations in-person and on Zoom are between 40 and 60 minutes. We recommend at least 10-15 additional minutes for Q&A with the speaker, which is facilitated by a Holocaust Center volunteer or staff member.
When can a speaker be booked?
Speakers can usually be booked to start their presentation anytime from 9 AM to 3 PM on weekdays, except major federal and major Jewish holidays. Weekdays and evenings may be possible, speaker and staff schedules depending. Contact the Holocaust Center if you have specific questions.
Who are the presentations suitable for?
Groups of 20 or more and students in Grade 5 and above, as well as adult groups. The Holocaust Center for Humanity is located in Seattle, WA and priority is given to schools and groups in Washington State and the greater Pacific Northwest. If you are outside this area, we encourage you to check with your local Holocaust museum.
What is the fee?
Virtual speaker presentations: free for schools. $100 fee for businesses, and adult or community groups.
In-person presentations: free for schools, except reimbursement of any travel expenses for the speaker (usually small, for gas mileage). $100 fee for businesses, and adult or community groups.
For virtual and in-person engagements, an honorarium from any group or school is always welcome; typical honoraria for speakers are anywhere between $25 and $200.
How do I book a speaker?
Please apply to host a speaker by submitting the Request Form. If you have questions or concerns about booking details, please contact Lexi Jason, Education Program Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
How do I best prepare students?
The Holocaust Center has many resources for this! Browse our Best Practices, schedule a virtual field trip, attend weekly public Lunch & Learns, and so much more. You will also receive a document on preparing and debriefing students once a speaking engagement is on the calendar for your group.
Can speakers do interviews with students, or one-on-one projects?
On a case-by-case basis, the Center can help arrange for a speaker to meet with one student or a small group, or exchange information via email or phone. Please contact us for more information.
How can students, teachers, or others get more involved with the Holocaust Center?
There are many ways to get involved. Use our other resources, consider joining the Student Leadership Board, Educators for Change, or Board of Directors. Train to become a docent with the Center, or volunteer at events. Spread the word and encourage your peers and colleagues to host a speaker!
Can I become a member of your Speakers Bureau?
The Center is always working with potential speakers to develop and research their stories and presentations. Due to the intensive process, there may be a waitlist to work with Center staff to join the Bureau. Learn more with this informational handout, or contact Laurie Warshal Cohen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Additional Questions?
Email Lexi Jason, Education Program Manager - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The development of Legacy Speakers is made possible with the generous support of Debbie Killinger; the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc; and the Norcliffe Foundation. Funding for Women's Voices in History was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
Recommended Lessons & Activities (that don't require a teacher!)
Readings you can print and share, short videos, critical thinking questions and more. Teaching and learning from home can be a challenge, especially when there are so many other stressors ocurring around us. These resources take that into consideration - they are short, engaging, and can be used independently.
Overview Lessons - By Subject
Each of the Overview Lessons includes a brief reading, links to short video clips of survivor testimony (transcripts are provided if accessing video clips is not possible), and critical thinking questions. Each lesson can be downloaded and printed. Designed for students in grades 7 and up.
Common Core State Standards addressed by these Overview Lessons
- Pre-War Overview
- Changing World Overview
- Flight and Rescue Overview
- Ghettos and Camps Overview
- Liberation and Post-War Overview
- Resistance Overview
- Enduring Lessons Overview
Writing, Art and Film Contest
Deadline for submissions July 1, 2020. Open to students in grades 5-12 in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The Writing, Art, and Film Contest chall enges students to explore the history and stories of the Holocaust and to consider how individual actions, big and small, make a difference. LEARN MORE
With My Own Eyes
A 20-minute educational film that serves as an introduction to the Holocaust. This video weaves the testimonies of local Holocaust survivors with contemporary issues of bullying, bystanders, and world genocides. The goal of the document ary is to introduce the viewer to the Holocaust and to connect this history to our world today. For grades 7 and up. Nominated for the Association of King County Historical Organizations Legacy Award! View Film
Want More?
What was the Holocaust? (online article and questions)
Antisemitism (online article and questions)
The Nazi Terror Begins (online article and questions)
Flight and Rescue (online article and questions)
Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust (online article and questions)
The Jewish Ghettos: Separated from the World (online article and questions)
Nazi Camps (online article and questions)
Post-War: Chaos and Challenges (online article and questions)
Armed Jewish Resistance: Partisans (online article and questions)
No Time to Think (pdf article and questions)
Questions?
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Director of Education, with questions or for more ideas.
State Requirements
FAQs from the Holocaust Center about RCW 28A.300.115-116
Follow this link to access the Holocaust Center's FAQ sheet to learn more about this important legislation.
We did it! Governor Inslee signs Holocaust education bill!
April 19, 2019
We are so proud to announce a huge win for Holocaust education in our state. After unanimously passing the Senate and the House, Holocaust Education Bill SB5612 was signed by Governor Jay Inslee Friday, April 19! This bipartisan bill, the result of a partnership between our Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, is a significant step towards ensuring that every student in our state has access to quality Holocaust education. This bill has been codified as law in two statutes, RCW 28A.300.115 and 116.
This new bill creates a partnership between the Holocaust Center for Humanity and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Together, we have developed best practices and guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust and genocide.
In addition, our Center has been conducting statewide professional development for educators, teaching them how to apply these new standards. At the end of 2022, the Holocaust Center will report on the effectiveness of this legislation and make recommendations for the future of Washington State Holocaust education.
In short, the law “strongly encourages” teaching lessons of the Holocaust from grades 6 and up in all public schools. Any educator teaching about the Holocaust, however, is required to adhere to the above-referenced “best practices and guidelines.” The law explains, “In addition to this study being a reaffirmation to never again permit such occurrences, studying this material is intended to examine the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and intolerance and prepare students to be responsible citizens in a pluralistic democracy."
Contact Paul Regelbrugge (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with any questions, requests for free Professional Development, recommendations, etc.)
Studies show that Holocaust education effectively teaches students about antisemitism, bigotry, and the consequences of indifference. At the Holocaust Center , we use Holocaust education as a powerful tool to dismantle hate and inspire action. We would be unable to do our important work without your help.
Testimonies to Senate Early Learning K-12 Education Committee (video)
Testimony from Teacher Paul Regelbrugge (pdf)
Studies on the impact of Holocaust education:
Echoes and Reflections - US College Survey (2020)
Claims Conference Study - Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness 2018
IHRA Research in Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust 2017
How Does Education about the Holocaust Advance Global Citizenship Education? UNESCO, 2018