Start strong and stay aware
By Amy Moran, Ph.D. and Allison Connolly
Welcome back! As we begin the 2025-26 school year, wonderful possibilities exist for deepening our practice as educators while staying informed about how students, educators and communities are being influenced by our nation’s political and cultural climate. Returning in conversation is Allison Connolly, Holocaust education expert, to chat about the current state of affairs and broader implications for our work.
Amy: Given all that’s been happening, what’s on your mind this September?
Allison: Well, federal decisions around identity and personal rights will impact students when they come through the doors. How many students might not return because our government is now disappearing people who are legally attending immigration court appointments and U.S. citizens through racial profiling? Many students will be coming into our classrooms with unprecedented trauma and concern for their family’s safety.
Amy: Exactly. I’m also reminded of other hard truths, such as how the president approved student loan forgiveness for Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents but not teachers, how more students are impacted by food scarcity because the government rolled back Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and how bullying and harassment are on the rise as intersex, transgender and nonbinary students work to find safety in a country whose current federal government says they don’t exist.
Allison: Teachers might come to school scared too, afraid of choosing culturally responsive pedagogies in a political climate that vilifies diversity, equity and inclusion. Let’s remember that New Jersey is still a bastion of progressive education practices, which helps us remain among the top in the nation for education overall.
Amy: True, but these federal policies’ implications and shifting cultural norms are concerning. “The American Dream” is now elusive, resulting in worsening outcomes for future generations, severe economic inequality, and the erosion of civil rights, social safety nets, and even basic empathy for others.
Allison: Yes. Schools have been safe places where free public education helps students achieve upward economic mobility. But when kids don’t feel safe coming to school, we see increasing rates of absenteeism and dropouts. 2024 data indicates that 57% of New Jersey’s LGBTQIA+ youth experienced harassment related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. It feels like we’re going backwards.
Amy: I hope teachers continue using LGBTQIA+ affirming pedagogies—like the New Jersey mandate requires—to support trans, nonbinary and queer kids who may now be less likely to confide privately in teachers and counselors, given the rhetoric they may hear on the news.
Allison: Students also know not all teachers are invested in creating a safe environment, which impacts their ability to learn and thrive.
Amy: So what are some things we can actually do?
Allison: Remember that if you’re aligning your pedagogy to state standards and mandates, no one can push back on your instructional content.
Amy: And although the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that families of K-5 students can opt out of LGBTQIA+ affirming literature, include it nevertheless. And New Jersey’s mandates still say that students in grades 6-12 are to receive affirming content about the contributions of LGBTQIA+ people.
Allison: Also, the New Jersey Commissions exist to support teachers in their pedagogies around marginalized communities, supporting our instruction of social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies as well.
Amy: While it’s pretty brutal at times, it’s important that we stay aware of cultural and political developments in this unprecedented era of harmful change.
Allison: Overall, it’s about impact. Even one supportive adult can help students thrive in adversity. Maintaining an environment that is conducive for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, their skin color or languages, their documentation status, their food insecurity and more makes good teaching and yields excellent outcomes.
Amy Moran, Ph. D. (she/her) is an out queer educator, advocate and activist working to make education inclusive and affirming for all students and colleagues. She is a 31-year middle school teacher, was a high school GSA advisor for 16 years, served on NJEA’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee and received NJEA’s Equality Champion Award.
Allison Connolly (she/her) is a veteran educator and president of the Township of Ocean School Education Association. She also serves as the chair of the New Jersey Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools and as a member of the NJDOE Commission on Holocaust Education.