Juan Cabrera
National Humanities Specialist
Savvas Learning Company

Juan Cabrera is a former secondary Social Studies teacher, who works to with teachers, administrators, and district officials to find innovative curriculums that fit their classroom instruction. Juan is a member of the Savvas committee for Culturally Responsive Education Professional Learning.

Eric Finland
Program Director and Musician
The Blues and Beyond

Eric Finland is the founder and creative force behind the interdisciplinary curriculum offering, The Blues and Beyond. Eric uses music to afford all students—regardless of age or race— an understanding of the roots of American Music through the lens of the African American Experience. Eric is driven by the importance of knowing where the music comes from, and the history behind it. Eric collaborates with musicians and educators to create culturally responsive programs that support national academic standards. Eric is an established Jazz musician and currently serves as the Music Director of Bethel AME Church in Norwalk, Connecticut. 

Dr. Benjamin Foster, Jr.
Lecturer
African American Studies Program
Central Connecticut State University

Dr. Benjamin Foster, Jr. is a Public Intellectual. He is the recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Award presented by the 400 Years African American History Commemoration Commission. Foster is the Convener, Institute for CrossCultural Awareness and Transformative Education. In addition, he serves as Adjunct Professor of African American Studies and Religion at Central Connecticut State University. 

Josh Haverlock
Program Officer, High School Outreach
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

Josh Haverlock received his M.S. in adolescent education from SUNY Cortland before moving to Washington, D.C. to intern with the National Education Association. He worked for the curricula developer Great Minds, then later with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Now at FIRE, Josh embraces being at the intersection of two of his passions: education and free speech.

Kristen Levithan
Education Project Specialist
Connecticut Historical Society
After a decade as a classroom teacher, Kristen Levithan served as a museum educator and School Programs Manager at the Connecticut Historical Society. Now, as Education Project Specialist, Kristen works with schools and organizations on projects that integrate state and local sources into the teaching of Social Studies.

Amy Perry
6th Grade Geography & World Cultures Teacher &
Social Studies Curriculum Specialist
JFK Middle School, Plantsville, CT

Francisco A. Scarano, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of History
University of Wisconsin-Madison

A native of Puerto Rico, Scarano received his B.A. from Duke and his Ph.D. from Columbia. He taught at the University of Connecticut before joining the Latin American and Caribbean history faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was until his retirement in 2016. In addition to being a professor at Wisconsin, he was Director of Graduate Studies in History and Director of the Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program twice. He has published widely on general Caribbean, Puerto Rican, and Cuban history.

Adam Taylor
Head Narrator
Blues and Beyond

Adam Taylor is an ordained minister and has sang background vocals for Clay Aiken, Timothy Wright and Nancy Wilson.  He is the head narrator for The Blues and Beyond.