Abigail Henry & Ismael Jimenez

Abigail Henry has been teaching African American History as part of Mastery Charter Schools for the past 10 years. She is the Content Lead in African American History, frequently leading Professional Development sessions for other history teachers. She’s helped shape the curriculum and has been part of the Culturally Responsive Teaching working group. She also is a member of the Center for Black Educator Development network (CBED), and has written about her work on Philly’s 7th Ward.——————————Ismael Jimenez is a dedicated educator, who for the last seventeen years has worked with students in Philadelphia from preschool age to high school. For over a decade, Ismael has led professional development sessions for social studies instructors across the city of Philadelphia and the nation. He has facilitated professional development sessions at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University and Princeton University on issues ranging from structural racism to bridging the knowledge/skill gap between high school and postsecondary institutions. Currently, Ismael is the Director of Social Studies curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia and an adjunct professor for the University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Teacher Apprentice Program (UTAP). His teaching and activism is rooted in the theoretical educational framework developed by Paulo Freire which emphasizes the interconnected nature of education with participating in the transformation of the world.