It's hard to believe that so much time has passed already, but this month marks my two-year anniversary of joining Facing History & Ourselves. As someone who has spent his entire professional life in the education sector—first as a classroom teacher, then as a longtime administrator in multiple states—I can say with honesty and confidence that I’ve never before been part of an organization that is so welcoming, impactful, and rewarding.
From my very first days at Facing History, I knew that I had arrived somewhere special. Few nonprofit organizations have such a rich and deep history—and even fewer have continued to have a major influence over time. The late Margot Stern Strom had a beautiful vision for a world free of hatred and bigotry, and it has been the honor and privilege of my career to work every day at upholding her principles and legacy.
With this anniversary in mind, I’d like to look back on what I said when I first joined as a way to reflect on a few milestones and lessons that stand out to me from my time thus far.
“Helping students and teachers stand up to bigotry and hate, especially at this time when learning from our shared histories and working together to create a better world for our young people is as great of a need as ever.”
When I wrote those words in April 2023, I had no way of knowing how truly resonant they would feel in 2025. I don’t have to tell you that we’re living in a time of unprecedented tension and divisive polarization. From the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia following the events of October 7 to the ever-shifting political situation affecting everything from free speech to immigration, the world feels like an uncertain place right now.
But despite these challenges—or perhaps, because of them—I’ve come to understand the important role that Facing History & Ourselves has to play. This organization has become trusted by educators over the course of nearly 50 years for good reason. And while STEM subjects sometimes steal the show when it comes to prioritization by school systems, I've been greatly heartened by the way that our nation is responding to the politicization of history. School and district leaders are actively leaning into history and civics education by partnering with us because they know that our rigorous and time-tested approach can help them navigate the unpredictable and contentious conditions in which they are operating.
“I look forward to partnering with school, district, state, and network leaders…”
One of the most exciting parts of my tenure as President and CEO of Facing History & Ourselves has been our increased focus on a district-wide strategy to help scale organizational impact. In 2024 we launched a new chapter for Facing History by focusing on partnerships with school systems and making connections with—and emphasizing tools for—educational leaders. From New York City to Palm Beach County, from Philadelphia to Chicago, we're raising awareness and bringing our proven approach and resources directly to schools and districts that can benefit from our perspective.
The value of our work is greater than ever all across the country, and I truly believe that we can make a difference in all 50 states—connecting across difference to find common ground and promote empathy, civic responsibility, and critical thinking.
I’ve had countless conversations with educational leaders who have each relayed to me the degree to which our expertise, pedagogy, and curriculum are truly resonating with school systems in this moment. From civics resources on the fundamentals of democracy to our tentpole case studies on the Holocaust and Reconstruction, it's wonderful to know that we're doing good work and focusing on the things that matter in order to be there for those who need us most.
“…as they support teachers to build classroom environments that are inclusive, reflective, and allow for critical dialogue where every student feels heard and valued.”
Of course, this district-wide strategy hasn’t gotten in the way of our main mission: developing relationships with educators and students to help create a better world. After all—that’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?
Over the past two years, teachers have been looking for ways to facilitate difficult dialogue and have the tough conversations that are so essential to developing critical thinking and thoughtfulness in their students—especially in such an emotionally-heightened climate. With the future in mind, Facing History has been committed to creating resources to support these exact topics. When students understand that their voices have value, it’s that much easier for them to responsibly use those voices to participate in a democracy that affects us all.
We know that building inclusive and positive school environments leads to increased student academic achievement, decreased bullying, and more civic engagement both in and out of the classroom. Rather than burying our heads in the sand or trying to avoid contention, we’re helping educators find the opportunities in disagreement to empower their school communities into civic engagement.
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Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer sincere gratitude to my colleagues as well as organizational friends, supporters, alumni, teachers, and students. The very best part of my job has been spending time with people who genuinely believe in the powerful work we do at Facing History & Ourselves. In a world that can often seem cruel and inhumane, I’m deeply proud to lead an organization that prioritizes kindness and inclusion as we look to build a democracy where everyone feels like they belong.
There have been difficult days, but they’ve been consistently overshadowed by the joy of doing work that matters with people who matter. So on that note, thank you for your support over these two meaningful years—I look forward to many more.
About the Author: Desmond K. Blackburn, PhD is President and Chief Executive Officer at Facing History & Ourselves, a national nonprofit organization that works with school systems to use lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. He has spent nearly 30 years as a career educator (teacher, principal, superintendent, adjunct professor, author). To find out how Dr. Blackburn and the Facing History team can support you, reach out to support [at] facinghistory.org.
