Teaching the Holocaust With Empathy and Purpose

Jan 6, 2026

Listen to the Audio Version

Holocaust education is more than a history requirement. It is a lesson in empathy, courage, and moral responsibility. In this episode of the American Classroom Podcast, hosts Jared Taylor and Lindsey Crosland sit down with Leigh Routman, Executive Director of the Holocaust Learning Experience, to discuss a free, comprehensive Holocaust curriculum now used by schools across the country.

Leigh shares her personal journey working alongside Holocaust survivors and the urgent call she heard from them to keep their stories alive for future generations. The conversation explores how the program is designed to be age appropriate, interdisciplinary, and easy for teachers to implement, while remaining deeply meaningful for students. From survivor testimonies to real classroom data showing increased empathy and student engagement, this episode highlights how thoughtful Holocaust education can shape informed, compassionate citizens.

Show Notes:

Leigh Routman

Executive Director, Holocaust Learning Experience

Email: lroutman@holocaustlearningexperience.org

Website: https://holocaustlearningexperience.org/

Program Flyer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h0xEX4_esJ8I_vs8Sm9Fgbb79v5viA16/view?usp=sharing

If you want to learn more about the American Classroom podcast, please visit https://americanclassroom.show/

To learn more about or take a tour of the great schools mentioned in this episode, visit Heritage Academy https://heritageacademyaz.com/

or Paul Revere Academy https://paulrevere.tech/

Sponsored by: Heritage Academy, downtown Mesa campus

www.hamesa.com

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