Lauren Marchello

2026 Yale & Slavery Teachers Institute Cohort Member

I currently teach Modern Global Studies and United States History at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, Connecticut. I have spent the past several years advocating for and co-writing a new, culturally responsive Social Studies curriculum for our district that is designed to increase student engagement through representation and inclusive narratives. Our high school sits on Unquowa Road, a street named after a small clan of the Paugussett tribe. Fairfield’s very origins are intertwined with the conclusion of the Pequot War, specifically the Great Swamp Fight that took place just miles from our school in 1637. Recognizing the complex layers of Fairfield’s past, I aim to cultivate historical empathy within my classroom, offering my students the opportunity to more fully broaden their perspectives to include the sophisticated traditions and enduring continuity of the Indigenous communities who have called Fairfield home for thousands of years. 

Ultimately, through my instructional approach, curriculum development, and Advisory work, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for Fairfield’s roots among all FLHS students, encouraging them to connect our history to modern events while recognizing the enduring responsibility we share for our community and its land.