This week’s guest is Norman Conard, director of the Irena Sendler Project. Ms. Sedler was a Polish woman who saved 2500 children from the Holocaust. The project is dedicated to sharing her story, which was discovered by students in rural Kansas.
Norm Conard taught social studies at Uniontown High School in Uniontown for 20 plus years, he has left the classroom to develop an international education center. The Lowell Milken Center celebrates unsung heroes in history. A third generation educator, Mr. Conard made sure that his teaching style exceeded traditional classroom boundaries by encouraging his students to develop projects of tolerance and diversity. His dream and the dream of his students was to develop a foundation which can assist schools and students across the country to develop such projects….like Life in a Jar. One of his great sources of pride is having seen over 200 of his students win state history championships and 80 of his students achieve national recognition in the National History Day Competition. Norm has received numerous state and national teaching awards. Mr. Conard says, “Irena Sendler has changed my life and the lives of my students. She continues to make a huge difference in our world.” Norman and his wife Karen still work with the original student founders of the projects, all of which are in their late 20’s.
God Bless you! The Maus book has raised awareness in the last few days, but my Jewish close friend sent an email to be forwarded with Irena’s story. She was brave and smart beyond words. For your students to be part of making sure we never forget or denigrate the horrors to humanity embodied in the Holocaust.
Irena overlooked for a Nobel Peace Prize? Why? Because she was a woman? Honor to all who sacrificed so much in WWII and all other wars.
Thank you for your work.