This post is by Allison Spire, a SEED leader and K-1 teacher at Our Community School in Chatsworth, California.

Since attending SEED New Leaders’ Week, I can no longer teach the traditional pilgrim stories (the single story) I have always known. I keep hearing the voice of Chimamanda Adichie saying in her video (in that beautiful voice), "Start the story with the arrows of the Native Americans, and not with the arrival of the British, and you have an entirely different story." At first, since I had not had an opportunity to develop new curriculum, I simply focused on a general theme of "being thankful." I believed that was, at least, better than teaching the single story—until I could get my act together.

SEED Co-director Emmy Howe wrote recently at the Wellesley Centers for Women blog about "Creating Space for More Than Tolerance" in schools. We hope you'll go read about her own and her daughter's experiences, and how she believes teachers can create space for tolerance in their classrooms.

SEED Founder Peggy McIntosh answered 20 questions about SEED for the Wellesley Centers for Women's Research & Action Report several years ago. Her answers continue to offer insight on SEED's unique approach to professional development and education. We will be posting one or two here each week over the next several weeks. Please come back to read them all!