Small Schools Network

Facing History and Ourselves formed the Small Schools Network in 2008 with the support of the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust.  Member schools work with Facing History to improve overall school culture and climate as well as offer outstanding units and courses with Facing History case studies.  They are drawn to the network because of their belief that Facing History can make a profound impact inside and beyond the classroom walls. 

Why small schools?  Small schools generally have no more than 500 students and embrace a philosophy of knowing each student well.  Facing History believes that small schools are able to personalize education, know every student, and build a community where an ethic of care can be fostered.  The schools are small enough that Facing History can be assured that all students take Facing History classes during their school career, and all staff members are familiar with Facing History’s core themes, language, offerings and impact.   

The Small Schools Network started with just 12 schools and has grown each year to now over 25.  They are bound by their commitment to deepen their work with Facing History and to share their successes with each other.  Over 10,000 students attend schools in Facing History’s Small Schools Network.  

School faculty and Facing History staff work closely together to create programming that meet the school’s goals— for example, we have generated sequences of courses, school-wide speakers’ series, special exhibitions of student work, conflict resolution practices, and service learning projects.   Schools communicate with others in the network through virtual workshops, regional meetings, a network website and conferences.

Marielle Montero - a senior at the Facing History School in New York City speaks at the Facing History and Ourselves Small Schools Network retreat. This video was taped at the Arena Stage in Washington DC on April 11, 2011.

Trevor Gardner, humanities teacher at Envision Academy in Oakland, CA speaks at the Facing History and Ourselves Small Schools Network retreat at the Arena Stage in Washington DC on April 11, 2011. Watch more of Trevor's speech here.