Putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place – the classroom.
Our mission is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place – the classroom – ensuring all students, today and beyond, learn a more complete story of America and a more accurate reflection of who “We the people” includes, promoting genuine understanding and equality for all LGBTQ people.
Our founders, Deb Fowler and Miriam Morgenstern, witnessed first-hand how visibility and representation in the content they taught in their classrooms have an immediate and lasting impact, as students deepened their connection to what they were learning while also developing a sense of belonging and respect for each other. In 2013, with a combined 30+ years of teaching experience, Deb and Miriam were ready to expand their sphere of influence to bring a more inclusive education to exponentially more students across the country.
Deb Fowler, Co-founder and Executive Director
Deb's path to the education profession began with her service in the United States Army as a Korean linguist, prior to the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. (Her story is featured in Vincent Cianni’s award-winning book Gays in the Military). After teaching English at a private academy on the outskirts of Ulsan, South Korea, she returned to the United States in 2004 and spent the next decade teaching English and a variety of humanities courses to new immigrants and refugees at a large, urban, truly diverse high school. During that time, she produced two documentary films, Hard Truth, Levity, and Hope (2011) and Through Gay Eyes (2013) to promote awareness of students and families who are ignored, marginalized, or excluded within the public school system.
Deb has worked closely with experts to develop Intersections and Connections curriculum, participated in the most recent revision of the Massachusetts History and Social Sciences Curriculum Framework as the LGBTQ history Content Advisor, co-authored the National Council for the Social Studies Position Statement on LGBTQ+ History, and speaks at state and national conferences about the urgent need for LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum.
I feel a sense of urgency, every day, to get our curriculum in the hands and hearts of all students because I know, from first-hand experience, our curriculum is affirming lives, changing lives, and most importantly saving lives.” - Deb Fowler
Miriam Morgenstern, Co-founder
Teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum developer and entrepreneur, Miriam has had over 30 years to develop her philosophy that children and adults are natural learners, and in the optimum environment, they have the capacity for deep learning and boundless creativity. Since co-founding History UnErased, Miriam has worked closely with other experts to develop Intersections and Connections curriculum, exploring topics ranging from gender roles in colonial Jamestown to the economic impact of discrimination today. Prior to this, Miriam taught history and English to non-native speakers in a large urban high school, where she developed innovative programs and mentored new teachers.
Miriam developed and taught the nation's first and only Cambodian Culture and Conflict course and created international teacher exchange programs that are still in place today. Miriam is the recipient of numerous awards for teaching excellence and was chosen by the government of Cambodia to facilitate Cambodia's first Genocide National Teacher Training Program in Phnom Penh. Miriam received a B.S. in Politics from Brandeis University and M.S. TESL from SUNY Albany.
“Teachers cannot be expected to teach what they haven't learned themselves. Teachers need high-quality training, a curriculum they can easily integrate, and ongoing support. Teachers are vital to our mission.” - Miriam Morgenstern
Bryan Nadeau, Board Chair
Bryan Nadeau is a Strategic Leadership Advisor who brings decades of experience to growing History UnErased's leadership team with a focus on strategic planning, building intentional organizational culture, and maintaining morale in the face of disruptive change. He has held senior leadership positions at Pacific Bell and Kaiser Permanente, and founded a successful production company, where he built an extensive portfolio of clients, such as Bank of America, Pacific Bell, AT&T, and Microsoft. His work on a children’s television program resulted in a regional Emmy Award. He uses and builds on that wide-ranging leadership experience to advance History UnErased's mission of putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom.
Bryan holds a B.A. from Oklahoma State University and a Professional Coach certification from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. In addition, he holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coach Federation and a Certified Systemic Team Coach Practitioner qualification from the Global Team Coaching Institute.
“From the moment I was first introduced to History UnErased, I understood the power of being seen and the positive impact that brings to the LGBTQ community and beyond. I am passionate about getting this curriculum in every school across the country.” - Bryan Nadeau
Creating Lasting Change
We are committed to ensuring all students, today and beyond, learn and understand a more complete and complex story of America and a more empowering reflection of all "We the people." We believe this is the most powerful tool to create lasting change and allow genuine understanding and equality to become a lived reality for all LGBTQ people.
Students Are at the Center of It All
LGBTQ visibility in the mainstream curriculum helps all students make connections to the LGBTQ topics that surround them in today's world. Most importantly, this visibility conveys a message of acceptance, belonging, and respect, which then generalizes into their friendships, school culture, and a more welcoming society for LGBTQ people.
"This is just history! It happened. We have a right to learn about this." - Nelson
Teachers Are Critical to Our Mission
Classroom teachers impact students' lives, school culture, and the community at large in many ways. And in their classrooms, they are the arbiters of acceptance, belonging, and respect. We listen to what teachers need and incorporate their feedback into the ongoing refinement of our curriculum, which is critical to advancing our mission.