The July 27, 2024 Educator Workshop was one of two summer professional development sessions the National Civil Rights Museum held in 2024, providing teachers with a substantive mid-summer opportunity to deepen their knowledge and sharpen their classroom practice before returning to school. The Museum’s approach to educator professional development reflects a belief that teaching civil rights history well requires ongoing engagement, not a single training session. The educator workshop series is designed to build a community of informed, committed teachers who return year after year and who bring colleagues and new participants with them each time.
These workshops are built around the Museum’s core educational philosophy: that civil rights history is not a closed chapter but a living story that continues to shape American democracy, and that young people deserve educators who are equipped to teach it with honesty, nuance, and contemporary relevance. Topics explored in summer workshops often include the connections between historical civil rights struggles and present-day issues of voting rights, economic inequality, criminal justice reform, and access to education. Facilitators draw on the Museum’s extensive collection of primary sources and exhibition materials to ground each session in specific, documented history.
Memphis Shelby County School teachers attending earn professional learning credits in PLZ. Virtual attendance is available for educators outside the Memphis area. The Museum’s Educator Workshop series is one of the longest-running and most respected civil rights professional development programs in the South, drawing participants from across Tennessee and neighboring states. For registration and additional information, contact Education Manager Dory Lerner at dlerner@civilrightsmuseum.org.