Telling the Stories: Narrative in Holocaust & Genocide Education

Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference

National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education

Seton Hill University

November 10 - 13, 2024

(Registrations will close on November 4, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.)

Conference Registration

Who Should Attend

The 2024 Conference is designed for Holocaust educators teaching in grades 6 - 12. Act 48 credits available.

Registration

There is no cost to attend this conference, however registration is required.  

Register Here 

Travel & Campus Information

The Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference is held at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The Courtyard Marriott in Greensburg is holding a block of rooms featuring discounted rates for conference attendees. 

• Directions to Campus
• Campus Map
• Additional Lodging, Transportation & Dining Information

Conference Agenda

Sessions will be available online and in-person, except where noted. Links to livestreamed events will be provided to registered attendees.

Sunday, Nov. 10

2:00 pm - Opening Session
Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Reichgut Concert Hall 

• Welcome, Seton Hill University President Dr. Mary Finger
• Prayer, Sister Maureen O’Brien, S.C, Seton Hill University Vice President for Mission & Identity
• Greetings, Francine A. LeFrak (via video)

2:15 pm - Keynote Speech 

• Alexandra Zapruder “Salvaged Pages: Young Diarists, the Holocaust, and the Historical Record” (Details here.)
• Introduction by Dr. James Paharik

4:00 pm - Reception
Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Johnson Room

Monday, Nov. 11

Except where noted, sessions are in Cecilian Hall in Seton Hill University's Administration Building

11:00 am - 12:15 pm - “America and the Holocaust in Comic Book Format” (Details here.)

• Dr. Barbara Burstin & Ms. Amy Palo

12:40 pm - 1:50 pm - “Beyond Anne Frank: Teaching the Holocaust Through Literature” (Details here.)

• Mr. Daniel Shaner & Ms. Anne Flick

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm - “Best Practices for Teaching the Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights” (Details here.)

• Mr. Nick Haberman

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - "Best Practices Workshop for Teachers Grades 5-12" (Administration Building Room 405, In- Person Only) (Details here.)

• Mr. Nick Haberman & Ms. Emily Loeb

7:00 pm - Kristallnacht Remembrance Service (Details here.)

• Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather, "Kristallnacht Through the Lens of the Jewish Diaspora"

Tuesday, Nov. 12

Except where noted, sessions are in Cecilian Hall in Seton Hill University's Administration Building

9:35 am - 10:50 am - “Human Connection, Story & Pedagogies of Hope” (Details here.)

• Dr. Christine Cusick, facilitator
• Dr. Roni Kay O’Dell, Dr. Emily Wierszewski, Ms. Kim Sleeper & Mr. Haroon Al Hayder

11:10 am - 12:25 pm - “Teaching the Yazidi Genocide with a Narrative-Based Approach” (Details here.)

• Ms. Kim Sleeper & Mr. Haroon Al Hayder

12:45 pm - 2:00 pm - Using Primary Documents in the Classroom (Details here.)

• “How one Family Letter Can Help Students Connect Lessons of the Holocaust to Today” – Ms. Jessica Antoline
• “Propaganda in Early Nazi Occultism” – Ms. Heidi Newbauer

2:20 pm - 3:15 pm - The Eva Fleischner Oral History Project: Mr. Daniel Stern (Details here.)

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm - Study Tours to Poland: Classrooms Without Borders (Administration Building Room 405, In-Person Only) (Details here.)

• Ms. Kate Lukaszewicz & Mr. Mark Katarski 

7:00 pm - Visiting Scholar Lecture  (Details here.)

• “Pedagogical Sovereignties: Approaches to Teaching Indigenous Narratives” – Dr. Timothy Petete 

Wednesday, Nov. 13

Cecilian Hall in Seton Hill University's Administration Building, In-Person Only

11:00 am - Noon - Closing Session 

• Controversial Issues in Education Today – Panel Discussions

Session Topic Details & Presenter Information

Salvaged Pages: Young Diarists, the Holocaust, and the Historical Record

Alexandra Zapruder 

In this lecture, Alexandra Zapruder will introduce the broad and inspiring range of youth journals and diaries that have surfaced from the Holocaust over the past eighty years. Spanning nearly every country in Europe and reflecting diverse experiences, including fleeing, hiding, and living under Nazi occupation, young people documented their daily lives and left an astonishing record of coming of age in extremis. She will share a framework for thinking about the historical and literary contributions of these diaries, and for understanding the unique perspective of adolescence. Finally, she will speak about keeping a journal as an act of resistance, sharing classroom resources and practical ways to incorporate this vast wealth of content into a wide range of disciplines.

Alexandra Zapruder began her career as a member of the founding staff of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Smith College, she served on the curatorial team for the museum’s exhibition for young visitors, Remember The Children, Daniel’s Story. She earned her Ed.M. in Education at Harvard University in 1995.

In 2002, Alexandra completed her first book, "Salvaged Pages: Young Writers’ Diaries of the Holocaust," which was published by Yale University Press and won the National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category. It has since been published in Dutch and Italian. She wrote and co-produced "I’m Still Here," a documentary film for young audiences based on her book, which aired on MTV in May 2005 and was nominated for two Emmy awards. In the fall of 2015, she completed a second paperback edition and a multimedia edition of "Salvaged Pages" and, in conjunction with "Facing History and Ourselves," published related educational materials designed for middle and high school teachers. She contributed an essay about young writers’ diaries to the Anne Frank House Permanent Catalogue, which was published in eight languages. 

Alexandra serves as the Education Director of The Defiant Requiem Foundation. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights (EIHR), a nonprofit that develops partnerships with teachers in post-conflict countries to provide training in best practices on human rights, genocide prevention, and Holocaust education.

America and the Holocaust in Comic Book Format

Barbara Burstin & Amy Palo

America and the Holocaust is a graphic booklet written by Dr. Barbara Burstin. It is targeted to junior and senior high school students who might benefit from an alternative type of resource on this topic. Set during World War II, the book features two students who raise questions about unfolding events in Nazi Germany and America’s response. Guidance will be offered regarding how to incorporate this resource into the classroom. Supplemental materials to enhance the lesson plan will be provided.

Barbara Stern Burstin, Ph.D. has served on the History faculty of both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. She has published several books and articles relating to the Holocaust and the history of Jews in Pittsburgh, including: After the Holocaust: The Migration of Polish Jews and Christians to Pittsburgh; Steel City Jews: A history of the Pittsburgh Jewish community 1840-1915; and Steel City Jews in Prosperity, Depression, and War: A history of the Pittsburgh Jewish community 1915-1950. Her most recent project is a graphic publication titled, America and the Holocaust, which is intended primarily for junior high and high school students.

Amy Palo teaches 10th and 11th grade US and World History, AP US History, and dual-enrollment Government and Politics at Cornell High School in Pittsburgh. She is a Penn State graduate (BA), holds a Master’s of Political Science from the University of Illinois, Springfield, and is pursuing a Master’s of American History from Gettysburg College and Gilder Lehrman. She is on the board of the PA Council for the Social Studies, and has been named a Teach Plus PA Fellow, Gilder Lehrman PA Teacher of the Year, James Madison Fellow,  and is a member of multiple educator advisory groups. She has been named a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Fellow to the UK for 2025.

Beyond Anne Frank: Teaching the Holocaust Through Literature

Daniel Shaner & Anne Flick

For many students, their introduction to the Holocaust begins with reading the diary of Anne Frank. Unfortunately, Holocaust education stops there for far too often. This session will discuss alternatives and additions to Anne Frank, not to replace her in the canon, but to provide options that teachers can use to broaden their students’ understanding of the breadth of Holocaust literature, and of the Holocaust itself. We will discuss materials we have used in our classes and provide an annotated bibliography of some key works that we have found.

Daniel Shaner has recently retired after thirty-five years of teaching middle-level English language arts and gifted support in the public schools of Maryland and Pennsylvania. He has been named Holocaust Educator of the Year by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, and one of the Righteous Among the Neighbors by the 10/27 Healing Partnership. 

Anne Flick, M.Ed. is a gifted specialist teaching middle schoolers in Ohio. She has taught all literature and informational text standards through a year-long Holocaust literature course, and is currently developing a Holocaust history course. As an adjunct professor at Xavier University, Anne teaches graduate students to meet the needs of advanced learners. 

Best Practices for Teaching the Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights

Nick Haberman

This session will provide best-practices for teaching the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations (PA - Act 70 of 2014) using guidelines, resources, and recommendations from organizations like the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Department of Justice, and the United Nations. Teachers will also learn about ongoing opportunities for student art and writing competitions, a brief history of the creation and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, opportunities to connect with survivors and "generations speakers" (children and grandchildren of survivors), and various opportunities for UDL through the Act 70 lens.   

Nick Haberman is a Pittsburgh-based educator and founder of the LIGHT Education Initiative.  He currently works for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit as the inaugural Coordinator of Civic Engagement and Anti-Hate Education in partnership with the Tree of Life, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the home of LIGHT. He spent the first 18 years of his career with the Shaler Area School District as a classroom teacher.  After being recognized as the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s "Educator of the Year" in 2018, he created LIGHT as a program to transform classroom-based Holocaust remembrance into student advocacy and action for all victims of identity-based violence, and to inspire, prepare, and empower the next generation of humanitarians. He has served as a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum "Museum Teacher Fellow" and a Jewish Foundation for the Righteous “Alfred Lerner Fellow” (Master Teacher of the Holocaust), in addition to being recognized as the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” and “Righteous Among the Neighbors” by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.  He is also a member of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit education working group and a board member of the Etna Community Organization.

Best Practices Workshop for Teachers Grades 5-12

Nick Haberman & Emily Loeb

This workshop will offer an opportunity to learn to  implement best practices in the classroom. Attendance is limited to 15 participants.

Emily Loeb is Director of Programs and Education at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Emily became involved with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh in 2018, when she started volunteering as a Generations Speaker. Since early 2023, Emily has served as the Director of Programs and Education, in which she oversees the Holocaust Center’s public and education programs, as well as fundraising and the annual budget. Prior to joining the Holocaust Center, for over a decade, Emily ran the Gendler Grapevine Project, a sunset initiative established to honor the work and vision of Rabbi Everett Gendler.

Kristallnacht Through the Lens of the Jewish Diaspora

Lauren Bairnsfather

Lauren Apter Bairnsfather is the Chief Executive Officer of the Anne Frank Center USA. She began her career at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and most recently served as Executive Director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. She holds a Doctorate in History from the University of Texas at Austin and serves on the boards of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and the Council of American Jewish Museums.

Human Connection, Story & Pedagogies of Hope

Panel Discussion: Christine Cusick, Facilitator

Practitioners of genocide education must foster in students an appreciation for the complexity of history, teach the facts and consequences of atrocities, and acknowledge the emotional resonance of those lessons. If the goal of genocide education is to create a world that is so connected that such horror can never be repeated, then we must create opportunities for students to witness the transformative power of human connection. This panel examines how the researched curriculum of Narrative 4, a non-partisan global network of authors, educators, and students who use the power of personal narratives to build human connection to motivate collaborative dialogue and action, serves as an effective tool for understanding genocide and as a concrete experiential mode. Panelists are university, secondary, and community educators who will share their related research, practical applications, and outcomes in partnering with Narrative 4 in the contexts of genocide education and historical empathy. 

Christine Cusick is Professor of English and Director of the Honors Program at Seton Hill University. She is a Master Practitioner with the global nonprofit Narrative 4 and the liaison for the Seton Hill partnership with the organization.  Her research is in fields of Irish Studies and environmental humanities, focusing on the intersections of ecology, narrative, and cultural memory. She has been nationally recognized for creative nonfiction that highlights the confluence of memory and place, and has been an invited plenary speaker at national and international conferences.  

Teaching the Yazidi Genocide with a Narrative-Based Approach

Kim Sleeper & Haroon Al Hayder

The Yazidis, an ancient religious and ethnic minority mainly in northern Iraq, practice a syncretic faith blending elements of Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, and ancient Mesopotamian beliefs. They have endured historical persecutions, including genocides such as those during the Ottoman Empire. In 2014, ISIS perpetrated a devastating genocide against the Yazidis in Sinjar, resulting in mass killings, enslavement of women and children, and forced displacement. Teaching about the Yazidi genocide provides insight into global conflict and displacement. By employing narrative techniques, such as personal testimonies and storytelling, educators can effectively convey the profound impact of these atrocities on individuals and communities, highlighting the resilience and ongoing challenges faced by Yazidis in the diaspora, and offering insights into contemporary global issues.

Kim Sleeper is an English teacher at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Recently, she has worked to incorporate the history and testimony of the local Yazidi community into her Holocaust and genocide literature course and creates resources for other teachers to do the same.

Haroon Al Hayder, originally from Iraq, moved to the U.S. in 2016 and now resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. He serves as a Senior School Community Coordinator at Civic Nebraska, a board member of the Yazidi Cultural Center, and is the President and Founder of the Nebraska Soccer Club. Haroon is actively involved in community organizing, youth development, and public service. Fluent in Kurdish, Arabic, and English, he is dedicated to fostering inclusive and empowered communities. Haroon continues to make significant contributions through his leadership and commitment to public service.

Using Primary Documents in the Classroom

How One Family Letter Can Help Students Connect Lessons of the Holocaust to Today – Jessica Antoline

This session will explore the Nazi German invasion of Czechoslovakia through the experiences of a young Jewish man named Max Gans and what remains of his history: a single letter addressed to a stranger in the USA. Written in an attempt to escape occupied Europe, Max's letter allows students to explore the historical events of the Holocaust together with the challenges of immigration, the ongoing tragedy of statelessness, and what it means to seek the help of strangers in a time of need. This session will focus on how students can connect Max’s story to what they are seeing in the media and to their own lives. Educators will walk away with a set of primary documents that are easily accessible to a range of ages and learners, including Max's letter.

Jessica Antoline teaches modern world history and genocide studies in Lexington, MA. Prior to teaching, she was a curator of Jewish history and public programs, a fellow at the Yiddish Book Center, and an intern at the Auschwitz Jewish Center. Raised in New Alexandria, PA, Jessica's mother lived in Greensburg after arriving in the USA from Panama.

Propaganda in Early Nazi Occultism – Heidi Newbauer

The Nazi’s use of propaganda created a utopian picture of an empowered, prosperous land, with the Ayran race at its forefront. In the 19th century, many occult groups formed. Their ideals showered the Nazi party with visions of why race is a superiority model, with Aryans being at the top of the hierarchy. Within these influences, early Nazi supporters fused relationships that carried this energy from the late 1800s to the 1930s, when the Nazi party was at its prime. This essay explores how these early occult influences paved a significant path for the success of the Nazi party, and how propaganda became a powerhouse in their early campaigns. Within this exploration, careful attention is paid to how propaganda can flourish in times of uncertainty and fear. 

Heidi Newbauer is an English Instructor at South Central College in Mankato, MN, a Teaching Artist at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN, and freelancer. She finished a graduate certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Seton Hill and has an interdisciplinary background in writing, literature, myth, theology, and creativity.

The Eva Fleischner Oral History Project: Daniel Stern

We at the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education have produced a series of films, designed for use by educators, that feature Pittsburgh-area Holocaust survivors. One of these films tells the story of the parents of Daniel Stern, who undertook a perilous journey in their attempt to flee Nazi persecution. Mr. Stern will be on hand to discuss the film.

Study Tours to Poland 

Kate Lukaszewicz will be on campus to discuss the opportunities that Classrooms Without Borders provides for teachers to visit the death camps in Poland. She will be joined by Mark Katarski, a Seton Hill staff member who recently visited Auschwitz. 

​​Pedagogical Sovereignties: Approaches to Teaching Indigenous Narratives

Dr. Timothy Petete 

Timothy Cully-Peteteketv is a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. He is also Associate Teaching Professor of English and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of California-Riverside. He earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of Oklahoma. His teaching and research interests include American literature, indigenous studies, visual and sonic rhetoric, and memory culture. He has given scholarly presentations at a variety of venues, including the Western Literature Association Conference, the Popular Culture Association Conference, the American Literature Association Conference, the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, the College English Association Conference, the Conference on College Composition and Communication, and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference. He has also delivered plenary addresses and facilitated teaching demonstrations in several countries, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, England, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. He was awarded a 2023 Fulbright fellowship to conduct research and teach at the University of Osijek in Croatia.