My name is David Smokler and I'm the new Director of K-12 Educator Outreach for StandWithUs, an international organization dedicated to combating antisemitism and educating the public about Israel.
I joined StandWithUs in the middle of the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, after 26 years as a public school teacher and administrator. I made that decision because I believe that too many educators are feeling isolated, under attack, and unsure how to navigate what were already charged school climates during these extraordinary times.
In the aftermath of October 7, we have seen a devastating wave of antisemitism impact too many K-12 schools. In response, StandWithUs has been working tirelessly to fight misinformation, hold perpetrators of hate accountable, provide pro-bono legal services when appropriate, and educate communities with timely resources, presentations, and workshops. We have provided direct support to over 200 U.S. and Canadian high schools, both proactively and to address a flood of requests for assistance regarding antisemitic incidents.
Now, we are building on those efforts by launching a national network of K-12 educators across the United States.
Together with you, our plan is to build a grassroots network of teachers, administrators, school board members, and others who share our values and goals:
Fighting bigotry against Jews in public and non-Jewish private schools.
Bringing more and better education about Jews, antisemitism, and Israel to students and educators across the country.
Creating a vibrant community of Jews and allies to support each other, share best practices, and improve K-12 education from the ground up.
We will have much more to share in the coming weeks and months, but for now here is what I ask of you:
1. Join our network by filling out the form HERE.
2. Please share this page with any K-12 educators you know who share our goals and values.
I looking forward to working with you!
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