Teachers Lead the Way in Enhancing Street Law Resources

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March 11, 2025

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Street Law is proud to be a trusted provider of high-quality teacher professional development and classroom materials. To maintain and build on that trust, Street Law partners closely with educators to ensure its programs and resources continually meet the evolving needs of both teachers and students.

A key way Street Law achieves this is through its Teacher Amicus Group, a dedicated team of educators who provide valuable feedback to help refine the organization’s curriculum and programs.

The name “Teacher Amicus Group” draws inspiration from the concept of amicus curiae—a “friend of the court” who, although not directly involved in a case, offers valuable insights to guide the courts’ decisions on important matters. Similarly, the Teacher Amicus Group offers Street Law expert guidance to help ensure the organization continues to serve the needs of educators and their students effectively.

The newest cohort of this group recently launched. Over the next nine months, the team will focus its efforts on ensuring that Street Law’s materials remain relevant, impactful, and accessible for educators and students alike.

The Purpose

Teachers widely appreciate LegalTimelines.org— a tool developed by Street Law to help educators teach about central legal themes in U.S. history through primary sources. However, some feedback has highlighted the need for greater accessibility, particularly for middle school students and those with special educational needs. To address this, Street Law is developing new supporting materials to ensure that students of various ages and abilities can fully engage with LegalTimelines.org.

A key goal of this Teacher Amicus Group cohort is to pilot these resources and provide feedback to refine them before a broader rollout. The group has hit the ground running, testing graphic organizers and classroom activities while evaluating the scaffolding and differentiation needed for a variety of student populations. Early feedback has already identified several key needs, including additional readings at middle school levels, enhanced vocabulary-building support, and sentence starters to help prompt student responses. Through this collaborative effort, Street Law aims to make LegalTimelines.org even more effective for all learners.

The Cohort

The 20 members of this cohort come from schools across the United States, bringing a wealth of experience from teaching a wide range of social studies courses. Middle school teachers and those working with special education students or students with IEPs comprise the core of the group.

Throughout their nine-month term of service, Teacher Amicus Group members will use Street Law’s resources in their classrooms, share feedback, and participate in focus groups to discuss their experience with the new materials. 

Street Law is grateful for the time and expertise of the Teacher Amicus Group members, whose input is invaluable in ensuring that the organization continues to meet the needs of educators and students alike. 

Lekena Ackerman, Southeast Middle School, Hopkins, South Carolina
Rebecca Adezio, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York
Suzanne Alonzo, Guilford Park High School, Jessup, Maryland
Sarah Bishop, Northeast Middle School, Pasadena, Maryland
Jennifer Blevins, Southmoore High School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Joe Harmon, Redbank Valley High School, New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Jennifer Henley, Morrow High School, Ellenwood, Georgia
Kimberly Huffman, Wayne County Schools Career Center, Smithville, Ohio
Renee Kahre, Lutheran South Academy, Houston, Texas
Brittany Knauer, Montgomery Junior High School, Montgomery, Texas
Bonnie Lindley, Midway High School, Waco, Texas
Beatrice Lopez, Isaac E. Young Middle School, New Rochelle, New York
Rebekkah Morrow, Westmoore High School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Alison Osteen, Pleasant Grove Middle School, Texarkana, Texas
Janna Radarian, Grand Canyon School, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Christian Scott, Lyndon School, Boston, Massachusetts
Michael Simzak, Green Acres School, North Bethesda, Maryland
Andrew Swan, Bigelow Middle School, Newton, Massachusetts
Dina Violante, Union County Vocational-Technical High School, Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Lee White, East Buchanan High School, Winthrop, Iowa

Lekena Ackerman teaches grades 6–8 at Southeast Middle School in Hopkins, South Carolina. She currently teaches South Carolina History. Lekena joined the Teacher Amicus Group to enrich her students’ learning with engaging, high-quality curricular materials. As a middle school teacher, she has experience making complex historical and legal concepts accessible to younger students. Lekena looks forward to contributing to and piloting resources that will support middle school learners.

Rebecca Adezio teaches grades 9 and 12 at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, New York. She currently teaches Intro to Political Theory and Ethics and Participation in Government. Rebecca joined the Teacher Amicus Group to further enhance her students’ engagement with law-related education. She is enthusiastic about teaching students how legal and governmental systems shape their lives. Rebecca has used Street Law’s curriculum in her teaching and is excited to contribute to the development of new resources. Her experience with both general and special education students makes her well-equipped to create accessible materials.

Suzanne Alonzo teaches grade 9 at Guilford Park High School in Jessup, Maryland. She currently teaches U.S. History. Suzanne joined the Teacher Amicus Group to integrate law-related content into her history curriculum. With experience working with students with special needs, she is excited to help develop materials that improve accessibility for all learners. Suzanne has previously participated in Street Law’s TALCCS Program.

Sarah Bishop teaches grades 6 and 8 at Northeast Middle School in Pasadena, Maryland. She currently teaches World History, U.S. History, and a financial literacy course called Stock Market Mania. Sarah joined the Teacher Amicus Group to grow as a mentor within her department and bring high-quality law-related materials to her students. With eight years of middle school teaching experience, she understands the unique challenges of engaging younger learners and is excited to help adapt resources to better meet their needs.

Jennifer Blevins teaches grades 11 and 12 at Southmoore High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She currently teaches AP U.S. Government, AP Psychology, and American Studies. Jennifer joined the Teacher Amicus Group because she wants her students to leave her classroom with the knowledge and skills to be engaged, informed citizens. With 14 years of experience teaching at the 8^th-grade level before moving to high school, she is passionate about making complex legal and historical content accessible to a range of learners.

Joe Harmon teaches grades 8, 10, and 11 at Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He currently teaches Civics, Honors History, and Holocaust Studies. Joe joined the Teacher Amicus Group to merge his expertise in curriculum development with his passion for civic education. Joe has 21 years of teaching experience and holds a Doctorate of Education specializing in curriculum and instruction. He is excited about piloting Legal Timelines materials due to their close alignment with his Civics curriculum.

Jennifer Henley teaches grades 9–11 at Morrow High School in Ellenwood, Georgia. She currently teaches AP Government and Politics, AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, and AP Capstone Seminar. Jennifer joined the Teacher Amicus Group to find new and engaging content for her students. Having participated in previous pilot programs, she enjoys providing her students with unique learning opportunities. She is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute.

Kimberly Huffman teaches grade 11 at Wayne County Schools Career Center in Smithville, Ohio. She currently teaches American Government. Kimberly joined the Teacher Amicus Group because of her deep appreciation for Street Law’s professional development and engaging lesson plans. With 30 years of teaching experience, she is eager to contribute to developing high-quality civic education resources that align with her students’ needs. She in an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute, an experience she credits with significantly enhancing her approach to teaching judicial concepts.

Renee Kahre teaches grades 10–12 at Lutheran South Academy in Houston, Texas. She currently teaches AP World History and AP U.S. History. Renee joined the Teacher Amicus Group to help support the development of a new Legal Studies program at her school. She is eager to connect with others in the field and create engaging lessons and projects for her students. Renee is focused on laying a strong foundation for law-related education across grade levels. With over 30 years’ experience, Renee has taught a wide range of grade levels, curricular topics, and educational needs.

Brittany Knauer teaches grade 8 at Montgomery Junior High School in Montgomery, Texas. She currently teaches on-level and advanced U.S. History. Brittany, a member of the inaugural Teacher Amicus Group, is eager to continue her participation. She values the opportunity to deepen her professional practice in legal education and explore innovative teaching strategies. With 15 years of experience, Brittany has a strong understanding of middle school learners and special education students.

Bonnie Lindley teaches grades 10 and 12 at Midway High School in Waco, Texas. She currently teaches AP Government, AP Economics, and World History. Bonnie joined the Teacher Amicus Group because of her passion for making legal concepts accessible and engaging for all students, including those with special educational needs. She has used Street Law materials for years to help her students access complex content topics related to government and law.

Beatrice Lopez teaches grades 6–8 at Isaac E. Young Middle School in New Rochelle, New York. She currently teaches ELA, Social Studies, and Reading Intervention.
Beatrice was inspired to join the Teacher Amicus Group because of her deep interest in adapting curricular resources to ensure all students can engage with the content. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, Beatrice is excited to help make Street Law materials more accessible to middle school and special education students.

Rebekkah Morrow teaches grade 12 at Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She currently teaches American Government, Ethnic Studies, and Oklahoma History. Rebekkah joined the Teacher Amicus Group because it provides her students with early access to high-quality curricular materials. Rebekkah served in last year’s Teacher Amicus Group and is eager to continue her involvement in adapting and enhancing Street Law’s Legal Timelines materials. She is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers.

Alison Osteen teaches grade 8 at Pleasant Grove Middle School in Texarkana, Texas. She currently teaches U.S. History. Alison joined the Teacher Amicus Group to network with educators nationwide and explore innovative curricular materials. She values opportunities to ensure that teachers’ voices are heard in curriculum development. Alison has more than 20 years of teaching experience, which includes time teaching students with special needs, including those who are gifted and talented. This background makes her qualified to contribute to the development of curricular resources that aim to meet the needs of all students.

Janna Radarian teaches social studies to grades 6–8 at Grand Canyon School in Grand Canyon, Arizona. This is Janna’s second year serving on Street Law’s Teacher Amicus Group, and, as a seasoned middle school educator, she is eager to help adapt these materials for younger students. Janna is excited about helping students build their legal vocabulary and understanding of legal concepts. Janna is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute and Street Law’s work with the Arizona Department of Education. Janna has previously piloted middle school-level curricular materials for Street Law.

Christian Scott teaches grades 6–8 at Lyndon School in Boston, Massachusetts. He currently teaches Civics and World History. Christian joined the Teacher Amicus Group to improve his teaching of the legal system and connect with a broad network of educators. Christian has 13 years’ experience as a middle school educator. He regularly works with new educational materials and is eager to adapt curricula for students with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) to ensure accessibility and engagement.

Michael Simzak teaches grades 6–8 at Green Acres School in North Bethesda, Maryland. He currently teaches American History and World Studies. Michael joined the Teacher Amicus Group to collaborate with peers on adapting legal content for middle school students and those with special needs. This is his second year of service on Street Law’s Teacher Amicus Group, and he is excited to continue incorporating Legal Timelines resources into his curriculum. He is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute and regularly uses Street Law materials in his classroom, often adapting them to meet the needs of his middle school students.

Andrew Swan teaches grade 8 at Bigelow Middle School in Newton, Massachusetts. He currently teaches a full-year Civics course. Andrew joined the Teacher Amicus Group after discovering his passion for teaching legal concepts. With over 20 years of middle school teaching experience, he is committed to ensuring accessibility for all students and adapting materials to meet individual needs. He values Street Law’s focus on accessibility, which aligns with his teaching philosophy. Andrew is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute.

Dina Violante teaches grades 9–12 at Union County Vocational-Technical High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. She currently teaches Introduction to Law, 21^st Century Policing, U.S. History through Crime, Crime Scene Investigation, Law and Procedure, and Juvenile Delinquency and Corrections. This is Dina’s second term of service on the Teacher Amicus Group. She joined out of a desire to give back by helping develop learning tools and curricular materials and adapting them to be used by a broad range of students. Dina is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute and served as a teacher reviewer of the new 11^th edition of Street Law: A Course in Practical Law.

Lee White teaches grades 9–12 at East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa. He currently teaches Street Law, American Government, U.S. History Since 1877, AP Government and Politics, Holocaust History and World Religions, Psychology, and African American History. Lee joined the Teacher Amicus Group to refine his craft through collaboration and to create meaningful learning experiences for his students. Having taught both middle and high school students, Lee is committed to creating engaging, legal content for all students. Lee is an alumnus of Street Law’s Supreme Court Summer Institute and Rule of Law for All professional development.