113 | Healing Hate Through History in Rural Classrooms with Leigh Routman

Episode Summary:
In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association (NREA), is joined by Leigh Routman, Executive Director of the Holocaust Learning Experience (HLE). Together, they explore how Holocaust education can be a transformative tool for rural and underserved districts—not only fulfilling curriculum mandates but also shaping empathetic, courageous, and socially conscious students. Leigh shares how HLE is bringing high-quality, survivor-centered, and age-appropriate content to classrooms at no cost, and why educators are calling the program a “gift.”
Whether you're an educator, administrator, or community advocate, this episode will leave you inspired by the potential of education to heal hate and foster moral leadership.
Time Codes:
00:00 Introduction to The Rural Scoop
01:20 Introducing Lee Routman and the Holocaust Learning Experience
02:40 Personal Journey into Holocaust Education
04:32 Creation and Impact of the Holocaust Learning Experience
06:00 Program Implementation and Teacher Feedback
12:16 Student Engagement and Outcomes
14:28 Program Expansion and Accessibility
25:07 Teacher Training and Support
31:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources:
Holocaust Learning Experience Website: www.holocaustlearningexperience.org
Contact Leigh Routman: [e-mail]
Free access for districts: Available nationwide at no cost
Teacher Support: Virtual and on-demand training, LMS tutorials, pacing guides, and multilingual captions
Data-Driven Impact: 90% of students report increased likelihood to stand against hate; 84% report improved empathy
Closing Summary:
The Holocaust Learning Experience goes far beyond historical instruction—it's a catalyst for moral development, empathy, and civic responsibility. As Leigh Routman reminds us, rural educators want to teach meaningful content that empowers students, and HLE delivers that in a ready-to-use, high-quality, and deeply human package. In communities where resources are limited but hearts are big, this program offers a powerful tool for shaping thoughtful, engaged citizens.
To all our listeners: rural leadership means showing up with courage and heart. If today’s episode moved you, consider starting a conversation in your district. Together, we can keep building the kind of education our students deserve.