Rethinking Schools and the Anti-Racist Teaching & Learning Collective “We Protect Us” Webinar
On Thursday, April 3, 2025 more than 200 people joined a webinar co-sponsored by the ARTLC and Rethinking Schools focusing on the ways that K-12 teachers, students, unions, organizers and other advocates are collectively defending public education. In the face of growing threats from the new presidential administration on teachers, students, and public education we are asking: how do we make sense of this changing landscape? What are educators, advocates, students, and communities doing to defend themselves, our teaching, and our schools?
The panel— facilitated by Rethinking Schools' Cierra Kaler-Jones and the ARTLC's Nataliya Braginsky and Daniel HoSang— included a stellar group of panelists who described their work defending the rights of immigrant and non-citizen students, trans students, and teachers and students committed to critical inquiry. Their message was clear: now is the time to organize, assert our collective rights, and fight for the dignity of all teachers and learners.
If interested, a recording of the webinar here can be viewed here.
Panelists:
1. Dan McNeil, American Federation of Teachers General Counsel
2. Stacy Hickox, National Education Association Office of the General Counsel
3. Kate Redburn, Columbia Center for Gender and Sexuality Law
4. Jesse Hagopian, Educator and Organizer, Rethinking Schools Editor, and Author of Teach Truth: The Struggle for Anti-Racist Education
5. Mary Moyer Stubbs, New Jersey Association of School Librarians
6. Leslie Blatteau, New Haven Federation of Teachers president
7. Cristopher Cabrera, Connecticut Students for a Dream, Organizing Intern & Member
8. Tabitha Sookdeo, Connecticut Students for a Dream, Executive Director
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During the webinar, participants also shared multiple resources related to their organizing work to defend immigrant and trans students, protect attacks on libraries and areas of critical teaching, and other issues. Resources are complied here.