About Me

JonGreenbergAAUPJon Greenberg is an award-winning public high school teacher and writer whose work has been featured in Everyday Feminism, NPRThe Huffington Post, Teaching Tolerance, and Yes! Magazine. Creator and facilitator of the curriculum once named Citizenship and Social Justice, he has dedicated his career to social justice and civic engagement for nearly 20 years, including working to ensure ethnic studies is taught throughout Seattle schools and beyond. He is co-founder of the NAACP Youth Council, uniting students across the Puget Sound area into one coalition for racial justice.

To contact Jon Greenberg, click here. For a listing of presentations available for booking, click here.

 

Teaching Accolades

  • Seattle University College of Education Outstanding Alumni Certificate of Achievement (2018), chosen by the Seattle University College of Education
  • Golden Apple Award (2017) “in recognition of [my] ongoing commitment and dedication to the development and implementation of Ethnic Studies within Seattle Public Schools,” awarded by the Seattle King County NAACP
  • Courage in the Pursuit of Social Justice Award (2015) for “[my] courage in undoing racism in Seattle public schools classrooms, despite administrative attempts to interrupt [my] work,” chosen by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), University of Washington Chapter
  • The Mayor’s Award and Proclamation (2013), chosen by the Seattle Human Services Coalition and won by members of the Center School community who fought for the reinstatement of the race and gender curricula–including Courageous Conversations
  • Crosscut Courage Award Nominee (2013), nominated by an unknown source
  • Three-time Center School Teacher of the Month for Excellence in the Classroom (March 2012, January 2012, and one month in 2011), chosen by Principal Britsova during the two years she offered this recognition
  • Seattle University MIT Program Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award (2010), chosen by the Seattle University MIT faculty
  • Seahawks, Symetra Heroes in the Classroom (2008), nominated by Principal Vance
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award (2007), selected by the City of Seattle and the Seattle Center and won by the political activism group I facilitated, Students Inspiring Political Activism
  • Stewardship Award (2005), chosen by the Seattle Human Services Coalition
  • Paul Robeson Peace and Justice Youth of the Year Award (2005), won by Citizenship and Social Justice juniors
  • Seattle Student Voices Civics Award (2004), won by Citizenship and Social Justice juniors in a civics fair competition
  • Voices and Faces of Civic Participation Recognition (2004), selected by the Seattle City Club

In the News

2019

Issaquah School District denounces racist poster, vows diversity and equity training, Q13 Fox 

Black Lives Matter at School Week: A complex, important time of learning, Seattle’s Child 

Seattle students mark Black Lives Matter at School Week, The Seattle Globalist

Seattle schools need fewer cops, more counselors, students say, KUOW

‘Black Lives Matter At School’ rally to demand changes in Seattle schools, King 5

It’s ‘Black Lives Matter at School Week’: Why that matters, and how classrooms are taking part, The Washington Post

Racist depiction on Roosevelt High newspaper cover presents ‘an opportunity for us as a district to get it right’, The Seattle Times

NAACP Youth Coalition students call for change, King 5

Racial Equity Teams Gather at Saturday Institute, Seattle Education Association Blog 

2018

Impeach Kavanaugh!, Seattle Education Association Blog

Supporting Survivors, Opposing Kavanaugh, The Socialist Worker

Race and Parenting Special, King 5

Seattle school for refugees, immigrants: a dumping ground for problem principal?, Crosscut

Race & Parenting: How we talk to our kids about race, racism and identity (episode 2), King 5

Amid anti-immigrant and racial clashes, ethnic studies programs blossom in public schools, The Los Angeles Times

It’s ‘Black Lives Matter at School Week.’ Here’s what’s happening at schools in cities around the country., The Washington Post 

Seattle High School Students of Color Demand Their Voices Be Heard, The Seattle Weekly

Seattle Educators, Students Primed for “Black Lives Matter at School” Week, South Seattle Emerald

Seattle teachers to participate in ‘Black Lives Matter at School’ week, King 5

Seattle students call for race issues to top district agenda, King 5

2017

Ethnic Studies: A Movement Born Of A Ban, NPR 

Seattle School Board passes ethnic studies resolution, King 5

Students’ Year-long Social Justice Projects Combat Islamophobia and Racial, Gender Stereotypes, South Seattle Emerald 

The Great Divide: Growing up in Rural Washington as a Muslim Immigrant, The Seattle Met

Daring and Dynamic Dismantlers Episode Two podcast interview, CRREW Collective

Flipping the script: White people and allies of color share stories of interrupting whiteness, KUOW (Watch the video here)

Seattle Can Be An Unfriendly Town for Students of Color. A New Campaign Aims to Set That Right, The Progressive

Students push Seattle school board to support ethnic studies as central to the American experience, NEA’s EdJustice

Ethnic Studies Courses Break Down Barriers and Benefit Everyone—So Why the Resistance?
, YES! Magazine

Students tell Seattle school board Ethnic Studies needed, The Seattle Globalist

Educators, Students Press School Board to Scrap “Whitewashed” History Lessons, The Seattle Weekly

Seattle Schools may make ethnic studies mandatory, KUOW

NAACP proposes adding ethnic-studies curriculum to Seattle schools, The Seattle Times

NAACP Launches Movement to Make Ethnic Studies Mandatory in Seattle Schools, The Seattle Weekly

NAACP proposes mandatory ethnic studies in Seattle schools, KUOW

NAACP Advocates for Ethnic Studies in Seattle Public Schools, South Seattle Emerald

Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in downtown Seattle calls for social justice, Q13 Fox TV

Thousands of Seattle Public Schools teachers wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirts to classesQ13 Fox TV

Seattle Educators to Demonstrate BLM Solidarity in District-wide Action, South Seattle Emerald

2016

Why we need to save social justice teaching, The Seattle Globalist

2015

10 Teachers and Professors Who Have Come Under Fire for Addressing Racism and White Privilege, Atlanta Blackstar

Teachers under scrutiny for lessons on social justiceThe Sentinel of Nathan Hale High School

Members organize across the district for Center School teacher; Superintendent responds by reducing SIGNED_GREENBERG_PETITIONS_-_JAN_2015suspension’s impactThe Unity Newsletter of the Seattle Education Association (see picture)

Teacher in controversial race class returns to schoolKIRO TV

Seattle Center School teacher won’t skip over the tough stuffThe Seattle Times

Suspension stands but popular Seattle teacher heads back to classroomThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Center School seniors to Seattle Public Schools: Give us back our teacherThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle Schools slap reinstated teacher with 2-week suspensionThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Jon Greenberg, Class of 1991, a profile in Quaker Times, the Franklin High School Alumni Newsletter

2014

Social justice teacher at Center School wins reinstatementThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle School Board Meeting, Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle School Board Meeting Tonight, Seattle Schools Community Forum

School Board challenged: Is there risk in teaching race?The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Is the Seattle School District squelching candid talk about race?The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

2013

Seattle teachers deserve moreThe Socialist Worker

County Council members want popular Center School teacher restoredThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Center School students awarded for speaking out in teacher controversyQueen Anne and Magnolia News

Center School kids get award, but not their teacherThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Center School Students Receive Mayor’s Award for Fighting School District’s Shutdown of Race and Social Justice ClassThe Stranger

Center School Award from the City (and what McGinn had to say), Seattle Schools Community Forum

Popular Seattle Teacher Forced Out for Teaching Kids About RacismTakepart

Popular Seattle Teacher Forced Out for Teaching Kids About RacismYahoo News

Seattle Education Association Rep Council Resolution on Center School Teacher, Seattle Schools Community Forum

“This Class Changed My Life…”Let Kids Be Kids Advocacy Blog

Justice for all?Supporting Education Blog

Seattle Public Schools stumbles on race, teacher Jon GreenbergThe Seattle Times

Friday Open Thread, Seattle Schools Community Forum

Free Jon GreenbergKIRO Radio

Center School Staff and Students Plan to Protest at School Board Meeting TonightThe Stranger

‘Free’ the Seattle teacher being punished for talking about raceKIRO Radio

Supporters protest Seattle teacher’s transferThe Seattle Times

Frank talk about touchy subjects best lesson of allThe Seattle Times 

Reinstate our teacher!! Center School’s passionate message to Seattle School BoardThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Teacher transfer protestedCrosscut 

School Board Meeting Testimony List, Seattle Schools Community Forum

School District May Transfer Teacher Whose Race and Social Justice Curriculum Drew ControversyThe Stranger

District should not censor curriculaThe Sentinel of Nathan Hale High School

Curriculum Disruption at Center SchoolBallard Talisman of Ballard High School

Seattle Public Schools’ Courageous Conversations curriculumThe Seattle Times

Courageous Conversations: race and gender curriculaThe Seattle Times

District reinstates Center School class on social justiceQueen Anne and Magnolia News

Seattle Teachers’ Union Votes to Support Use of “Courageous Conversations” Curriculum at Center SchoolThe Stranger

Race and Class, Our District and…Fundraising?Seattle Schools Community Forum

In a word: How does Seattle Public Schools treat minority schoolchildren?The Seattle Times

Controversial class on race to resume — with changesThe Seattle Times

Breaking: Center School Race and Gender Curriculum Reinstated—MostlyThe Stranger

Seattle Public Schools reinstates, limits social justice classThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle schools chief reinstates suspended curriculum on raceKPLU

Center School Ruling,  Seattle Schools Community Forum

Curiouser and CuriouserSeattle Schools Community Forum

Decision nears on reinstating suspended high-school course on raceThe Seattle Times

Why it’s a good idea for Seattle’s students to talk about racial preferencesThe Seattle Times

Mr. Greenberg’s Opus at Last Night’s School Board MeetingSeattle Schools Community Forum

Center School Students, Alumni, Parents Testify at Packed School Board Meeting, Board Members Signal Support of Controversial CurriculumThe Stranger 

Expect Some Passion at Tonight’s Board MeetingSeattle Schools Community Forum

Are Seattle Schools Racist?The Stranger

Solid Ground supports teaching youth about race and social justiceSolid Ground Blog

Controversy grows over school district stopping race and gender curriculumThe Stranger 

District suspends ‘race and social justice’ class after complaintKOMO 4 TV (video)

Center School students galvanized by class suspensionKIRO 7 TV (video)

Seattle School District orders teacher to stop teaching class on raceKIRO 7 TV

Center School Race and Social Justice Class Issue Heats Up, Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle High School Teacher’s Race and Social Justice Curriculum Suspended After Parent ComplaintThe Stranger

Before 2013

Students learn about difficult choices facing King CountyQueen Anne and Magnolia News

“What Democracy Looks Like,” Real Change 

WhatDemocracyLooksLike

Teens sing out on budget cutsThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Part of the Budget,” Real Change

Partofthebudget

Students make an unusual show of support for human servicesThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer

 

 

 

 

Stay connected and learn new ways to fight for social justice.

Thank you! Please check your email to confirm your subscription.

Pin It on Pinterest