Joe Golossi, an 8th grade teacher at the Elysian Charter School of Hoboken, has been honored with a September 11th Teacher Award from the Tribute WTC Center Museum. Golossi was one of ten teachers selected nationwide to receive a Certificate of Merit for creating an exemplary educational project that help students to understand the impact of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Tribute WTC Center Museum is a historical and educational center created by the September 11th Families’ Association to share the personal stories of victims, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and residents of Lower Manhattan.
For the awards, the WTC Center encouraged teachers to engage students in unique projects that focus on historical and humanitarian aspects of September 11th history. The ten award-winning teachers found ways to integrate these lessons into language arts, history, visual and performing arts curriculum.
Golossi was the only New Jersey teacher to be honored. Golossi was specifically recognized for his curriculum that focused on understanding September 11th history as a method to build global citizens in part through intensive study and creative writing. Students researched with primary sources, speakers shared their personal September 11th experiences and ultimately explored the impact of 9/11 on the world. Students then collaborated with global charities in a year-long project emulating the humanitarianism explored in the aftermath of September 11th.
“I was inspired to create a 9/11 curriculum due to the fact that it is a living, accessible history,” said Golossi. “All of the adults my students have contact with were personally affected, and while it is important to gather facts and data about history, nothing beats making a valuable learning experience by having my students make a personal and emotional connection to this history from someone who lived through it, but likely watched it as well.”
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
