An Agent for Change in a Rapidly Evolving Educational Landscape

As the face of America's classrooms continues to diversify — with the number of non-white students in public schools nearing 50%, a critical movement has emerged to reshape education. Lorena Escoto Germán '05, a passionate advocate for anti-racist curriculum and practices, stands at the forefront of the movement.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Germán's personal journey is intertwined with her professional mission. Growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she experienced firsthand the sting of racism within the public school system. Yet, her family's unwavering belief in education instilled in her a deep appreciation for education as a path to empowerment and change.

“I encountered significant challenges in terms of resources and treatment,” Germán recalled. “While there were exceptional teachers, the negative experiences left a lasting impact.”

Driven by both personal conviction and a deep-rooted commitment to equity, Germán has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic inequalities that persist in educational institutions. She emphasized the urgent need for teacher diversity and curricula that authentically reflect the experiences of a rapidly changing student population.

“The demographics of our student population are changing before our eyes,” Germán noted. “It’s crucial that our educational practices evolve to reflect and celebrate this diversity.”

An Advocate for Change

After graduating from Emmanuel College with a bachelor's in English communication and earning a master's from Middlebury College, Germán initially shied away from education, scarred by her negative experiences as a student. However, a shift occurred during her college years, and she realized that education could be a vehicle for justice and healing. Motivated by a desire to challenge the status quo, she returned to Lawrence as a high school teacher and curriculum developer, determined to create a different experience for students than the one she had endured.

“Some of my colleagues were the ones who caused me so much pain and treated me so poorly. It made me realize I can do better. That's when I really understood the power of being a teacher, and how education can be for justice, restoration, reconciliation, healing and wholeness,” she said.

Entrepreneur with a Mission

Germán has held leadership roles across various educational settings during her two-decade-long career. Her experiences, from classroom teaching to curriculum design, inspired her to develop and share culturally sustaining pedagogies and anti-racist teaching practices. In 2014, she left her teaching position and co-founded with her husband, Roberto, the Multicultural Classroom, an organization that empowers educators with tools and a framework to incorporate anti-racist frameworks into their teaching. “At the heart of our work is the belief that education can be a transformative force for communities,” Germán explained.

Her approach is grounded in her foundational texts, The Anti Racist Teacher: Reading Instruction Workbook and Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices. These books provide practical guidance for educators looking to integrate anti-racist practices into their curricula. They form the basis of workshops and professional development sessions offered by her organization. Schools and teachers nationwide have participated in Multicultural Classroom programs.

Despite facing opposition and legislative hurdles, particularly in today’s polarized political climate, Germán remains resolute in her pursuit of educational justice. "Education is deeply intertwined with the societal challenges we confront," she said. "By examining what and how we teach, we can become agents of change. What we’re doing is centered in love and motivated by our faith.”

Germán’s time at Emmanuel College in the early 2000s was formative, though not without its difficulties. She recalled mixed experiences, including a lack of diversity among faculty and curriculum. Despite this, she values the impact of her time there. “One of the people that made a big impact on me was Dean Patricia Rissmeyer,” she said. “She modeled anti-racism in action.”

As she envisions a future where every school is a sanctuary of inclusion and equity, Germán urges educators to move beyond mere awareness of diversity to actively dismantle systemic inequities. "Education is not just about content," she emphasizes, "but about how we teach and who we empower. We have the opportunity to be agents of change."

Lorena Escoto Germán is more than an educator; she is a visionary, a healer, and a relentless champion for a more just and equitable world.