A Passion for Education at TJMHC

From the Desk of Emily S. Hager, Director of Programming & Education

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to listen in on a panel hosted by the National Council of Jewish Women, Arizona Section, regarding the state of education in Arizona. That same week, Consumer Affairs released their 2025 assessment of the best states for public education, revealing that Arizona continues to rank last at number 50. As NCJWAZ received questions and concerns from the community about the state of education, this latest ranking reaffirms a troubling trend: Arizona’s public education system is in crisis.

And yet, during the panel, I also heard something that gave me hope. When asked, “What is the most exciting trend in education right now;” a promising answer stood out: that there is a 15% increase for students obtaining teaching degrees/certificates at Arizona State University. Generally, past enrollment numbers remained consistent or even dipped slightly, but now they are climbing. Even more encouraging, was that incoming teachers are enthusiastic about their role in leading the next generation of thinkers.

That passion is something we also see firsthand at Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center.

Last week, TJMHC hosted hosted twenty-three police academy cadets as part of their training with the What you do Matters Institute. These young officers, like touring high school students, get to talk to a Holocaust survivor. They all learn about their community, the Holocaust, systems of hate, humanity, and they do so in the same spaces, on equal footing.

Whether the students go on to become educators, police officers, or community leaders, we hope they carry forward the understanding that the lessons learned at TJMHC are not just about the past. They’re about building a more just future.

Here at TJMHC, we are committed to fostering a well-educated community. Critical thinking is being threatened across the country. Without critical thinking, the ability to create independent thoughts backed by factual evidence will become extinct. When students aren’t encouraged to question, analyze, and reflect, misinformation thrives. TJMHC encourages critical thinking with reflective, thought-based dialog. The museum will continue to provide a safe space for students to engage in difficult truths, like genocide and hatred. And it’s why we believe that education—real, truth-seeking education—is the foundation of a better world. Whether it be for a young high schooler, a cadet on their first day, or to the educator of 50 years.