Jonathan Lopez

2025 Yale & Slavery Teachers Institute Cohort Member

I teach U.S. History, African American & Latino Studies, and AP African American Studies at West Haven High School, a diverse school community committed to fostering critical thinking and historical inquiry. Through the Yale and Slavery Teachers Institute, I plan to deepen my students' understanding of slavery in Connecticut by shifting from a broad overview to a localized study centered on New Haven. My project will refine our existing lesson by incorporating underrepresented perspectives, primary sources, and local case studies, such as the Amistad Trial and the role of enslaved individuals in building institutions like Yale. By engaging with historical documents, artifacts, and visual storytelling, students will gain more nuanced understanding of slavery's lasting impact. A culminating Socratic Seminar will encourage students to explore the moral and legal complexities of slavery, resistance, and complicity in Connecticut. I aim to adapt these materials not only for my elective and AP courses but for all 10th grade U.S. History teachers at West Haven High School as well.