Advocating for Safe, Inclusive K-12 School Climates: Educator Guide

Antisemitic harassment and discrimination in K-12 schools harm more than Jewish students, educators, and staff – they erode safety, belonging, and trust for everyone in the school community. When any form of hate takes root, it normalizes intolerance, fuels biases, distracts from learning and signals to community members that some people are less worthy of dignity and respect. Teachers can face or witness antisemitism from colleagues, unions, administrators, students, and/or parents/caregivers.

This resource is designed specifically to empower educators to counter antisemitism in their K-12 schools and districts through direct advocacy efforts. As a K-12 educator, you are uniquely positioned to recognize, respond to and prevent antisemitic incidents through advocacy to create more inclusive learning environments for all students. The suggestions contained in this document are meant to supplement your existing obligations under Title VI, state law, and/or school or district policy to respond to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

What Is This Guide? What Will It Help Me Do?

This guide will help you:

• Build advocacy skills using proven strategies and best practices backed by ADL resources.
• Navigate challenging conversations with colleagues who use problematic language.
• Identify and address curricular issues or classroom content that may perpetuate antisemitism.
• Advocate within professional contexts when unions or professional development opportunities promote anti-Jewish bias.
• Respond more effectively when you or your students face antisemitic incidents within your school community.
• Create lasting change in your school community through informed action.

Understanding Your Role as an Educator-Advocate

As an educator, you hold a unique position of trust and influence in addressing antisemitism, with a sphere of impact that can include students in your classroom, their families, professional colleagues, administrators, union or association peers, and the broader community. Embracing your role as an educator-advocate means approaching antisemitism with clarity, consistency and care: you name harmful behavior when you encounter it, you model inclusive language and conduct, and you create learning experiences that build empathy, critical thinking and respect for diverse identities.

Central to this work is your commitment to create safe learning environments for all students, support those who are impacted, and uphold educational standards of accuracy and fairness in both content and practice. By intervening appropriately and in compliance with relevant laws and policies when bias or hate occurs, setting and reinforcing classroom norms and collaborating with families and colleagues, you signal that antisemitism is incompatible with your school’s values and policies. Your advocacy is not only reactive – responding to incidents – but also proactive, embedding inclusive pedagogy, media literacy and historical context into instruction so that students learn to recognize and reject stereotypes, misinformation and dehumanizing narratives. It can also be direct advocacy to school administrators and elected officials to create and uphold a safe school climate. In doing so, you model the professional obligations of the teaching profession: stewarding safety, dignity and truth while cultivating a community where every student can learn and thrive.

Components of Advocacy

When advocating, it’s important to build out your ask or pitch. In preparing to have your advocacy conversation, a good formula for success includes the elements below. 

1. Share a personal story.

Sharing a personal story illustrates the issue. When you share your personal narrative, your listener understands why this issue matters on a human level. Stories are powerful and can inspire others to act. To help you craft your narrative, when explaining the issue and what you want your audience to do, think about how the issue has affected you, your family, your students and/or your community.

When telling your story, you should first introduce yourself and talk about how long you’ve been in the school/district. This builds a connection with the target audience of your advocacy and helps create empathy for your concerns. Focus on the impact of the incident(s) you’ve experienced, rather than the assumed intent of the perpetrator(s).

When you build your personal narrative, keep in mind a few key qualities that make it effective. Your story should be personal; share how antisemitism has directly impacted you or your students. Make sure it’s concise so you keep your listener’s attention and get your point across quickly. Try to include vivid details that create a clear mental image, as these stick with people much more than abstract descriptions. Always ground your story in facts to build credibility. Finally, connect your experience to the outcome you are asking for so your listener understands exactly how their action can help address the issue.

2. Communicate data.

While personal stories are the most powerful way to make an issue real for the listener, data helps show that your experience isn’t isolated; it’s part of a broader crisis. For example, according to ADL data antisemitic incidents have increased by nearly 900% over the last decade. In 2024 alone, 9,354 incidents were reported in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia, with 860 incidents recorded in non-Jewish K-12 schools. Sharing statistics like these alongside your story can help your listener understand both the personal and societal impact of rising antisemitism. You can find more data about antisemitism and state-specific data in ADL’s most recent Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. Additionally, most districts collect data on bullying and harassment incidents; you may be able to obtain that information through conversations with your district, a public records act request, or the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the United States Department of Education.

3. Have a clear ask.

By the end of your meeting with the target of your advocacy, it’s essential to make a clear, attainable and specific ask. Be clear about what you want to happen, and by whom, and directly request and document the actions you want taken. Specifying the actions your audience can take is essential for ensuring that, if they’re persuaded, they take action steps to address your issue. When possible, connect your ask to your school’s and/or district’s policies and priorities – found in the student handbook, employee handbook, and/or on the district’s and school’s websites. By connecting your ask to existing priorities, it not only demonstrates the importance of combatting antisemitism, but encourages adoption by leadership.

4. Thank them.

Thanking your audience for their time meeting or talking with you recognizes their efforts to support you and helps to build trust and demonstrates that you notice and appreciate their efforts. Be sure to thank them for any past support; this reinforces that you share common goals. Also, remember that acknowledging their time and attention goes a long way toward building a positive relationship.

5. Follow up!

Keep in mind that while some advocacy asks will be resolved with only one letter or conversation, others may not be. It is possible that you may need to have multiple conversations with many different stakeholders to ensure success. This strategy helps you establish valuable relationships with key administrators, which can prove instrumental if additional issues or concerns arise in the future.

Preparing for Advocacy Conversations

Before You Advocate

Prepare a specific ask for the person with whom you are advocating. The ask should be clear, relevant and within the power of the person you’re asking to act. Gather relevant facts and data, review school policies and procedures, identify potential allies and supporters, prepare clear and specific talking points, and anticipate questions or pushback. Thorough preparation increases your confidence and effectiveness while demonstrating your professionalism and commitment to the issue.

During Advocacy Conversations

Lead with shared values such as student safety and educational excellence, use "I" statements to share your perspective, listen actively to understand others' viewpoints, stay focused on the issue rather than personalities, and propose concrete next steps. These approaches help create productive dialogue and build the relationships necessary for lasting change.

After Advocacy Efforts

Follow up on commitments made, document outcomes and lessons learned, continue building relationships, celebrate successes (even small ones), and plan next steps for ongoing advocacy. The work doesn't end after one conversation – sustained advocacy requires ongoing attention and relationship-building to create lasting change in your school.

Taking Action: Next Steps

Creating meaningful change requires both immediate responses to problematic situations and long-term commitment to building more inclusive educational environments.

Educate Yourself

Begin by educating yourself through comprehensive resources that will strengthen your ability to recognize and address antisemitism effectively. The resources below are a great place to start to learn about antisemitism and bring these lessons into the classroom – no matter where you are in your own personal journey.

• Address Antisemitism Digital Kit
• Antisemitism: What Do Educators Need to Know
• Breaking Down Antisemitism
• Echoes & Reflections
• Israel in the Curriculum

Familiarize yourself with your school's non-discrimination policies and reporting procedures and any training materials you received, ensuring you understand the proper channels for addressing antisemitic incidents when they occur. These policies and procedures can be found in student handbooks, employee handbooks, and/or on your school’s or district’s website.

Build Your Advocacy Skills

Download and review "A Guide for Responding to School-Based Bias Incidents" to understand best practices for addressing antisemitism and other forms of bias in educational settings. Connect with your ADL regional office for ongoing support and access to additional resources tailored to your community's specific needs. Join networks of educators committed to fighting antisemitism, recognizing that collective action is often more effective than individual efforts. Consider joining BEACON: Building Educator Allies for Change, Openness and Networks, ADL's Educator Advocacy Network. Participants will grow their advocacy skills, network with other educators and learn how to combat antisemitism and hate in K-12 schools.

Find out if your union has a Jewish affinity group or caucus. For example, the NEA (National Education Association) has a Jewish Affairs Caucus comprised of Jewish members who work on issues of Jewish inclusion within the NEA and can mobilize to oppose harmful measures that may arise.  If your state or local union does not have a Jewish affinity group, consider starting one and using it as a vehicle to connect with other educators who are concerned about antisemitism in K-12 settings and within the union. Alternatively, find out if your school/district supports employee resource groups (ERGs), and if there is a Jewish ERG or the possibility of starting one.  This can similarly be a vehicle to connect with others and mobilize your advocacy against antisemitism.

Create Change in Your Sphere of Influence

Implement inclusive practices in your classroom that welcome and support students of all backgrounds, including Jewish students who may face unique challenges. Share resources with colleagues, helping to build broader awareness and commitment to addressing antisemitism throughout your school. Advocate for policy changes that protect all students from bias and discrimination, ensuring that antisemitism is explicitly addressed alongside other forms of hate.

Long-term Advocacy Goals

Work toward comprehensive antisemitism education in your school that helps all students understand the history and contemporary manifestations of anti-Jewish bias. Advocate for policies that explicitly address antisemitism as a distinct form of bias requiring specific attention and intervention strategies. Build partnerships with Jewish community organizations to enhance your school's understanding of Jewish experiences and concerns. Create sustainable systems for responding to and preventing antisemitic incidents that will continue to protect students long after individual advocates move on.

ADL Educational Resources & Support

ADL provides extensive educational resources designed to help educators create inclusive environments where all students can thrive.

Utilize Awareness to Action®: Challenging Antisemitism, a four-part digital learning experience for middle and high school students designed to unravel the complexities of antisemitism and empower the next generation to challenge all forms of bias. Access Echoes & Reflections, which provides middle and high school educators with dynamic classroom materials and professional development that help teach the Holocaust, civic engagement and empathy. Implement No Place for Hate®, a school-wide program designed to create inclusive climates where all students feel safe and valued.

Getting Help

In addition to following school and district reporting protocols and any other relevant laws or policies, report incidents to ADL at adl.org/report-incident to ensure that antisemitic incidents are properly documented and addressed. Contact your local ADL regional office for personalized support and resources tailored to your specific situation and community needs. Access ADL's comprehensive incident response guide and other tools designed to help educators and administrators respond effectively to bias incidents.

Remember: You are not alone in this work. ADL and many educators are committed to creating schools where all students, including Jewish students, can learn and thrive free from bias and hate. Your advocacy makes a difference in creating safer, more inclusive learning and working environments for everyone.