In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Sohn A. Butts sits with Ms. Carynne Conover, Newark’s Director of Social Studies Education and veteran educator, to explore the power of curriculum to liberate young minds. Ms. Conover reflects on her journey from a private Catholic school upbringing to advocating for equity and exposure in public education, framing teaching as a tool to empower students, not just inform them.

The discussion centers on creating curricula that are living, inquiry-based, and student-centered, where learners actively engage with content rather than passively receive it. Ms. Conover emphasizes the historian’s craft of asking compelling questions, analyzing primary sources, and connecting lessons to students’ lived experiences. By linking historical events, systemic inequities, and contemporary social issues, she demonstrat ...