There are over seven million Central Americans living in the United States, enough to fill 70 packed football stadiums. Teaching about Central America in pre-K–12 classrooms is not only about honoring the significance of our presence in this country; it means reaching seven million people, and beyond. At a time of heightened hostility toward Central Americans, documented and undocumented alike, teaching our stories, histories, and knowledge in schools is a powerful reminder of who we are and all we have yet to become. This is why the Teaching Central America project matters, not only for Central Americans and their children, but for everyone the classroom reaches.
The Teaching Central America project equips educators with the tools they need to teach these histories with accuracy and care: ready-to-use curriculum and lesson plans, teacher training and professional development, a growing network of educators committed to this work, historical materials and oral histories that center Central American voices, and connections to guest speakers and community partnerships. Together, these resources ensure that no teacher, regardless of their own background or familiarity with the region, has to build this knowledge alone. — Briseyda Barrientos Ariza, doctoral student, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Yale University