Advocating for History Education

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Join NCHE for a conversation on advocacy in history education, featuring perspectives from a classroom teacher (Jean Hill), school board member (Annie Whitlock), and organizational leader (Cathy Fleischer). This panel highlights the real-world challenges, successes, and sources of inspiration that shape advocacy across roles in education. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, administrator, or community member, you’ll gain practical insight into how advocacy can take many forms—and how you can make an impact in your own sphere.

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Cathy Fleischer is co-founder of Everyday Advocacy, a movement designed to help teachers learn smart, safe, savvy and sustainable ways to raise their voices to change the public narrative about teaching and schooling. A Professor Emerita from Eastern Michigan University, Cathy worked with preservice and practicing teachers for 32 years, with a focus on writing studies and pedagogy, and also served as both director of the Eastern Michigan Writing Project and faculty associate for the Office of Campus and Community Writing. Cathy has authored numerous books and articles about writing pedagogy, teacher action research, and advocacy and continues to to lead professional learning experiences for educators.

Jean M. Hill is an educator and instructional coach who currently serves as an Instructional Facilitator in Springdale School District in Springdale, AR. She supports middle-level teaching and learning from the local to national level, specializing in humanities and differentiated support for all learners. Jean was a recent participant and teacher leader in NCHE’s three-year Rural Experience in America opportunity, working with students and community members to engage in inquiry and civic action through public history projects. She is also a Retro Report Ambassador, a member of the Arkansas Council for the Social Studies, and a contributor to the Smithsonian Institution’s Rural Leaders Summit Collaborative. Jean has taught learners from Pre-K to adults and recently supported educational opportunities for teachers and students with the Right Question Institute, the Smithsonian Institution, the Arkansas Council for the Social Studies, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Corwin, and the National Writing Project.

Annie McMahon Whitlock is an Associate Professor of History/Social Studies at Grand Valley State University where she teaches elementary social studies methods for future Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers. She is the President of the Michigan Council for the Social Studies and a past member of the National Council for the Social Studies Board of Directors. Dr. Whitlock has published over 25 research articles centered on teaching elementary social studies through civic engagement, place-based inquiry, and curriculum integration. She is also the author of Place-Based Social Studies Education: Learning from Flint, Michigan and Inquiry by the Book: Teaching Historical Fiction with the Inquiry Design Model.