Teachers

Áine teaches African American History and English Honors at Sayre High School, a neighborhood high school in West Philadelphia. Her top priorities as a discussion facilitator are encouraging students to speak up with their own voices, respond directly to each other's opinions, and make connections between their lives and history.

Ashley Bryant is a high school World History and AP Human Geography teacher in Washington, D.C. Her passion for education began in working with Somali refugees in Maine and teaching humanities in Somerset, England in college. She received Fulbright Student awards in 2017 and 2018 to teach English at Brazil universities and was an American Geographic Society Teacher Fellow. Ashley is a current Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms participant to India and works on local teacher advocacy work with EmpowerEd.

Elena Marcovici is a history teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. She began teaching in 2022 and is passionate about education that helps students develop critical thinking skills, trace the impact of historical events to today, and see themselves as able to affect change in their communities.

Felisha Nation currently serves as an 8th Grade Social Studies teacher in Northeast Philadelphia. In her free time, she loves traveling, shopping and being a foodie. She also loves learning and trying new things in student-centered historical discussions and reflecting with fellow educators.

Originally from New Jersey, Jared Mahoney taught 10th and 11th grade history, IB Theory of Knowledge, and IB Psychology in Philadelphia. Jared is currently enrolled as an MEd student in the Teaching of Social Studies program at Teachers College, Columbia University where he is focusing his research on the role of discussion in building a more civic-minded world, and creating historical consciousness.

Josh is a 4th year 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher. One of his core goals as a teacher is to be a warm demander: someone who cares for students while also holding them to a high standard. While hard, reaching this goal in moments makes the stress worthwhile.

Keith completed his preservice teaching in a school just outside Philadelphia. He taught 9th grade honors world history.

Kira teaches World History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and Public Speaking in North Philly. She loves fostering strong writers, confident orators, and skeptical truth-seekers in her classroom.

Margarita Ortiz teaches in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her courses include U.S. History II, AP U.S. History, and AP Psychology. In addition to her emphasis on discussion, she also aims to build positive classroom culture and deepen students' personal connections to history.

Maria Adamson has been teaching for over 10 years and currently works at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, PA. She loves teaching about fashion and material culture and helping students participate in National History Day. In her free time, she loves dancing and snuggling up with her cats and a good book.

Maya is a high school history teacher who has worked in North Philadelphia for 5 years. She strives to create a classroom grounded in community, critical thinking, and joy. Maya believes in the power of education to help create the world we want to live in and feels grateful to work alongside such wonderful students!

Rainie Au Yeung is a middle school social studies teacher at a dual language Mandarin–English school. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Temple University, she uses primary sources to foster historical empathy and student-led discussions.

Sigal Felber is a high school history teacher in Philadelphia. She mainly teaches US History and has recently started teaching AP African American history. Her favorite topics include Reconstruction, the Vietnam War, and the Gilded Age.