Connecting Local History to the Classroom

Last month, nearly 60 MCPS educators, ranging from fourth grade to high school, attended a professional learning tour of local African American historic sites. Organized in partnership with Heritage Montgomery, the tour took staff members through Emory Grove, Pleasant View and the recently restored Quince Orchard Colored School.

Building on past professional development initiatives for content specialists and resource teachers, this year’s tour directly engaged classroom teachers to deepen their knowledge of Montgomery County’s history and learn about community life prior to urban renewal ahead of November’s Remembrance and Reconciliation Month.

The day concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Sarah Rogers, Director of Heritage Montgomery, featuring Rev. Timothy Warner (Emory Grove United Methodist Church), Rev. Gerard Green (Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal Church) and Sandi Williams (Sandy Spring Slave Museum).