Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

Community of Practice on Freedom

Community of Practice on Freedom

About

The community of practice on freedom engages the multifaceted aspects of critical events shaping American history and democracy — this year's cohort will explore the topic of American slavery. Communities of practice foster community among the teacher participants and enhance the learning experience of participants by cultivating group-centered relationships over the course of the year through multiple meetings, starting with online webinars and continuing with an experiential-learning field trip and on-campus, curriculum-development workshop.

Community of Practice Curriculum

In this opening session, we will explore the history of American slavery and approaches to teaching it effectively. 

Chattel slavery was not an American invention. It was a global system of involuntary servitude. African people were not always chattel slaves; they were a free people who developed politically-sophisticated, economically-strong and culturally-rich societies on the African continent. This session looks at approaches to teaching American slavery as a global phenomenon.

This session examines the evolution of slavery during the colonial era and tackles approaches to teaching the intersection of slavery and the U.S. Constitution.

This session will examine the persistence of Black resistance to the institution of slavery, focusing specifically on freedom seekers — those enslaved persons who risked their lives by attempting to escape bondage.

This session examines the Civil War and the role that African Americans played in their own liberation.

This session explores Reconstruction from the bottom up, shining a spotlight on one of the first communities of freed men and women – Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and the ways African Americans worked to give meaning to emancipation. This session will also contextualize the myriad obstacles freed men and women faced along the way.

About the facilitator

Photograph of man standing in front of a stained glass window

Hasan Kwame Jeffries is the director of the Difficult Subjects: K-12 Institute and an associate professor of African American history at The Ohio State University. He is the author of Bloody Lowndes: Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama’s Black Belt. From 2010-2014, Jeffries served as the lead historian and scriptwriter for the $27 million renovation of the National Civil Rights Museum  in Memphis, Tennessee. He has conducted teacher development workshops across the country and edited Understanding and Teaching the Civil Rights Movement. He has also worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance division to produce a major national report entitled Teaching Hard History: American Slavery. Jeffries has made media appearances locally and nationally and served as a featured historian on the Emmy-nominated documentary, Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise.

Additional Information

If you’re a district leader or an educator in any Central Ohio district, please complete the nomination/application webform. 

There is no cost for educators to participate. The institute offers each educator a $500 stipend and provides textbooks and other resources. Stipends will be disbursed following successful completion of the institute. Educators are also eligible for Continuing Education Units.

Which educators would benefit from participating?
Any K-12 educator would benefit from participation. Institute seminars and workshops are at heart of the program curriculum and are led by scholars from The Ohio State University’s College of Arts and Sciences who have expertise in history, literature, art, music and performance. Recognizing the value of practice, the institute also brings in teaching experts (to share pedagogical techniques) and multicultural curriculum developers (to provide instruction on complementing and supplementing State of Ohio standards pertaining to difficult subjects).

How much does the institute cost?
There is no cost to participate. The institute offers each educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks, parking and field trip food and travel. Stipends are disbursed following successful completion of the institute.

How does the district nominate an educator to participate?
District leadership may nominate educators by completing the webform and answering some brief questions. 

Can educators volunteer without the permission of their district leaders?
Yes, educators may nominate themselves using the webform. However, unnominated educators must include a letter of recommendation or concurrence from their district DEI coordinator or school principal. 

How long and how often are the institute sessions?
Programming consists of 30 hours of engagement. It includes an orientation session (January); five three-hour Saturday seminars (monthly); and an in-person experiential-learning field trip and workshop (June).

How do educators earn credit for participation?
Upon successful completion of whole institute, educators are awarded a certificate and verification of contact hours that may be submitted for CEU consideration to the relevant district committee.


Enrollment

  • What is the enrollment process?
    Educators interested in participating should complete this webform. 
     
  • Can I enroll in two tracks simultaneously?
    No. Each track runs concurrently; therefore, participation is limited to one track per year.
     
  • Can I enroll in a second track if I’ve participated in a previous year?
    Yes, per the discretion of institute leadership. Email Associate Director Puja Batra-Wells (batra-wells.1@osu.edu).
     
  • Can I participate if I am educational staff but not a teacher?
    Yes, per the discretion of institute leadership. Email Associate Director Puja Batra-Wells (batra-wells.1@osu.edu).

Institute Cost + Stipends

  • How much does the institute cost?
    There is no cost to participate. The institute offers each educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks, parking and field trip food and travel. Stipends are disbursed following successful completion of the institute.
     
  • How long will it take for me to receive my stipend at the completion of the program?
    Electronic direct deposits may take up to 60 days. Regular checks may take up to 90 days.
     
  • What is the vendor form? How and why should I complete it?
    The Ohio State University requires all institute participants to submit a completed vendor form in order to receive a payment. This form establishes participants as vendors in the university system.
     
  • If I completed a vendor form in previous years, can I use the vendor information that I have on file?
    No. Ohio State recently updated its vendor form protocols. As such, all participants must submit new vendor forms, regardless of previous enrollment.

Program Expectations

  • What is the institute’s policy on attendance?
    Institute participants are expected to attend all of the sessions unless there are exigent circumstances. We understand that life happens and conflicts may arise. However, we encourage participants to consider applying for the following year, if they are unable to fulfill this commitment. Please note that if participants are unable to attend the final field trip, the final stipend amount will be prorated down to $250.
     
  • What is the format of the sessions?
    Sessions may be virtual or hybrid depending on the format indicated by the instructor.

Program Materials

  • When will I receive books and materials? 
    Participants will receive their textbooks and other relevant resources at the mandatory orientation.

Email Associate Director Puja Batra-Wells (batra-wells.1@osu.edu).