Happy Black History Month!
At ATBHK, we approach Black History Month not as a standalone celebration, but as a powerful reminder of the ongoing responsibility to teach and learn Black history fully, honestly, and year-round. February gives us an opportunity to uplift the often-overlooked stories of Black Kentuckians, to celebrate the creativity, resilience, and brilliance of Black communities, and to reflect on how the past shapes our present. Through our partnerships with educators, students, and community organizations across the Commonwealth, ATBHK remains committed to centering Black voices, supporting inquiry-based teaching, and ensuring that Black history is not confined to a single month but is embedded into classrooms, communities, and conversations every day of the year.
Join us at the Muhammad Ali Center to celebrate Black History Month!
Applications for the 2026–2027 Julia Britton Hooks Fellowship will open in March on our website. This yearlong fellowship offers a collaborative space for educators from across Kentucky to explore the Commonwealth’s Black history and bring those stories to life in their classrooms. Through meaningful engagement with the Association and fellow educators, participants expand their perspectives, deepen their historical understanding, and connect with a supportive professional community.
Fellows gain access to high-quality resources for teaching Kentucky’s Black history, participate in both in-person and virtual professional development sessions, and collaborate with educators from across the state. The fellowship is open to Kentucky-based educators with two or more years of teaching experience who are interested in designing inquiry-based instructional materials, committed to inclusive and nuanced historical narratives, and willing to travel for conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. If that sounds like you, be sure to visit the Association’s website in March to learn more and apply—we’d love to see your application!
Now Accepting Applications for the 2025-2026 Mini-Grant Cycle
We are still accepting applications for our 2025-2026 mini-grant program! This grant is designed to support meaningful and creative approaches to teaching Black history in K–12 classrooms.
Educators can apply for up to $750 to fund projects that deepen students’ understanding of Black history, culture, and contributions. Whether you’re building your classroom library, organizing a field trip, or designing hands-on learning experiences, this grant supports the meaningful work educators are doing to bring Kentucky’s Black history to life in their classrooms.
Funds may be used for:
- Books and curriculum resources
- Field trips to museums or historical sites
- Classroom materials and supplies
- Guest speakers or virtual events
- Innovative classroom projects
Let’s continue working together to ensure that Black history is a vital and celebrated part of every student’s education.
Professional Reading
5 Ways to Introduce Lessons on Black History in the Early Elementary Grades
This Edutopia article emphasizes the importance of teaching Black history in elementary classrooms in ways that are engaging, age-appropriate, and sustained beyond Black History Month. It encourages educators to build students’ background knowledge through intentional vocabulary instruction, diverse texts, and collaborative learning strategies such as expert packs and jigsaw activities. The article also highlights interactive approaches such as gallery walks with primary sources, guest speakers, and culminating projects on African American innovators that help students develop curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of Black Americans’ contributions to U.S. history, reinforcing that this history is essential, not supplemental.
Contact Information
Email: info@atbhk.org.
phone: 859-985-3942
Website: www.atbhk.org
