New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos Launches Pilot for Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans

  • Posted: Tue May 13, 2025

NEW YORK – New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos today announced the forthcoming publication of Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans in United States History Volume 1 at the department’s annual Jewish American Heritage month celebration. This resource will be distributed to all schools for the 2025-26 school year, with five districts concurrently participating in a pilot to provide feedback and strengthen the use of these resources in the classroom.  

The Hidden Voices resources are not separate curricula but are NYCPS’ approach to providing our students with both mirrors and windows – opportunities to see themselves reflected in the resources while gaining perspectives on communities different from their own. These materials are designed to be integrated with our Passport to Social Studies and Civics for All curricula.   

This new curricular resource will feature a diverse array of Jewish Americans who have made important contributions to our city, country, and world, including:  

  • Asser Levy, one of the first Jewish settlers of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam 
  • Levi Strauss, the developer of blue jeans worn by Gold Rush miners, cowboys, rebels, rock stars, presidents, and everyday men and women; and 
  • Ernestine Louise Rose, an abolitionist and a suffragist whose speeches led to a friendship with Frederick Douglass and who organized the first National Women’s Rights Convention. 
“Our city’s strong, vibrant Jewish community has played an instrumental role in New York City’s past, present, and future. Through this new resource, hundreds of thousands more students will learn about how these Jewish American trailblazers contributed to the arts, business, politics, and more,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “By educating our children on other faiths and cultures from the very beginning, we reach one step closer to truly eradicating all forms of hatred from our city, building strong bonds of common understanding.” 

“New York City is home to the second largest Jewish community in the world, and I am excited to celebrate this community’s contributions to our city and our society—from cultural contributions like blue jeans and bagels to critical breakthroughs like the polio vaccine,” said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “Our Hidden Voices series is an invaluable resource for our schools, ensuring teachers can help our students build bridges and see their stories reflected in our classrooms.”   

As part of the pilot program, the five participating districts will participate in professional learning opportunities throughout the year and will share their feedback in focus groups this winter.  

As with previously launched Hidden Voices resources, Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans will also be available for free download by any educator in the country at weteachnyc.org.  

Currently, the following Hidden Voices guides are available for download:  

  • Untold Stories of New York City History 
  • LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History  
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
  • Stories of the Global African Diaspora Volume 1 and Volume 2  
  • Americans With Disabilities  

“UJA-Federation of New York is thrilled to see the contributions of notable Jewish Americans highlighted as part of NYCPS’ Hidden Voices educational resources. Jewish Americans have made indelible contributions to our society and culture, and we are excited to see those highlighted as part of NYCPS’ ongoing commitment to celebrating the rich diversity of New York,” said Eric Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York. 

“The antidote to darkness is sunshine, and with this important addition New York Public Schools continues its historic initiative to combat hate in America,” said Reverend Jacques Andre DeGraff, Chair of the New York City Public Schools Interfaith Advisory Council. “Hidden Voices educates both teachers and children and will become a vital element in creating the beloved community Reverend MLK envisioned.”