Cross Case Features: Teachers

Kaiser Middle School: Social Studies

Sherry Richman, History

Sherry Richman is currently the only teacher in her school who has attended an NCTA seminar. It has inspired her to include more Asia content in her own classroom, to share her knowledge and resources with other teachers, and to build support for Asian studies in the school through developing a China Exchange program.

As a teacher of U. S. History, Sherry Richman has found creative ways to incorporate Asia into her lessons. For example, in discussions of the exploration of Africa and the Americas, she introduced students to Chinese explorers from the same century. Sherry has ordered resources specifically to help eighth-grade teachers bring Asia into U.S. History lessons.

Sherry shares materials and has discussions with other teachers after school, during conference periods, and during lunch ¾in short, whenever there is any time or opportunity. Sherry also supplies teachers with web-based resources though a continual flow of e-mails. Her Social Studies colleagues know that she has additional materials on Asia that they are welcome to use. Sixth-grade teachers are the biggest users of those materials, although seventh- and eighth-grade teachers have also used some of Sherry’s NCTA materials.

As a result of her NCTA experience, Sherry has shared her knowledge at department and faculty meetings. She hopes to recruit two to three Kaiser teachers to take the NCTA seminar in the future. In addition, she has become a leader and advocate for Asian studies through her involvement on the board of directors of the state Social Studies Association.