Retro Report recently held its fifth annual Council of Educators Summit. Twenty-four teacher advisors from around the country gathered in New York on Monday afternoon, with some traveling from as far as Eastvale, California, and others from as close as Princeton, New Jersey.
Early the next morning, members of Retro Report’s education team, David Olson, Nathan McAlister, and Filiz Yargici, led an introductory session on Retro Report’s Teaching with Primary Sources collection, reminding teachers of the suite of Retro Report’s analysis tools available to them, from graphic organizers that scaffold comprehension to reflective worksheets and activities that help students develop a personal connection with the material. Following that, teachers were invited to offer feedback and brainstorm solutions around a variety of topics, including interactives, Retro Report’s AI tool, media literacy resources, and website design. “They’re constantly evolving. What started as news reporting has evolved into educational resources, and now we have interactives!” said Clayton Sweeney, an AP U.S. History, AP Macroeconomics and AP Government teacher at Clay-Chalkville High School in Alabama.
Laura McFarren (left) and Kymberli Wregglesworth (right) review the group’s ideas for how Retro Report can support them in addressing a variety of classroom challenges.
As the day transitioned into small-group discussions, educators had more opportunities to share anecdotes, exchange resources, and learn from one another. First-time attendee Monique Tait, an English Language Arts educator at Booker T. Washington K–8 School in Alabama, observed:
“It’s an atmosphere of people who want to learn and better our students — people who are like-minded. I don’t have a lot of people I can go to and say, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about this idea. How do I connect this?’ I’m always looking for ways to improve my teaching and my students’ experiences, so coming here and being surrounded by people with fresh ideas has been incredible. I’m not a history teacher, but being here has helped me think about new ways to connect these topics for my students. I came to be a sponge and soak up as much as I could, so I can better serve them. And you don’t get that everywhere. You can spend thousands of dollars on professional development and walk away with nothing. This experience was different. I learned something, and I was able to contribute, too. So often we’re told what we’re going to do, but rarely do we get a seat at the table to help create something or shape it into something better for other teachers. That’s pretty cool.”
After lunch, producers Matt Spolar, Joe Hogan, and Bret Sigler held a Q&A, sharing behind-the-scenes insights into the documentary production process, from brainstorming story ideas to planning shoots. The conversation naturally led into the next activity, in which teacher advisors worked together to develop lesson plans, using Retro Report videos as a starting point to raise questions and spark classroom discussions.
Retro Report producer Matt Spolar participates in a Q&A with educators.
Brande Johnson, a Geography, U.S. History, and Global Studies teacher at Spring Creek Middle School in Nevada, has been part of the Council of Educators for four years now. One of the highlights for her has been getting an early look at upcoming projects while collaborating with fellow educators:
“It’s kind of nice to get a sneak preview of everything that’s coming, and I really enjoy building the lessons. Working with Filiz has been great. I don’t get to collaborate with teachers very often at my school, so having people to bounce ideas off of is really valuable.”
Before the day wound down, council members and Retro Report staff gathered for dinner and a sunset boat ride along the Hudson River, taking in sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. Amanda Sandoval, an Ethnic Studies and U.S. History teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, reflected on the experience:
“We feel a little spoiled here at Retro Report. As an educator, I can’t help but appreciate the care they pour into us.”
Johnson echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the Summit experience extended beyond the activities themselves:
“They make us feel valued, like what we do matters. Sometimes, in our schools and districts, it’s easy to feel undervalued. Coming to a place where you’re appreciated and treated as someone special is pretty incredible.”
The Council of Educators and Retro Report staff enjoy a sunset Hudson River cruise on night two of the Summit.
To wrap up the Summit, teachers spent the final morning speaking with Emily Orr, Retro Report’s Associate Producer, who also helps create interactives for Retro Report’s education audience. The session gave educators the opportunity to directly shape future student activities while discussing how schools are navigating the ever-evolving role of technology in the classroom. It was a fitting close to a summit centered on development and collaboration.
CATE BOILLAT is the audience engagement intern at Retro Report.
