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CENTRAL AMERICAN EDUCATION &

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 201867780 · Form 990PF · FY2022 · NTEE T20 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Micro (<$100K) · www.teachingcentralamerica.org
revenue
$39K
expenses
$1K
net assets
$179K
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

Organization focused on education about Central America, providing K-12 teaching resources, lesson plans, and curated materials on history, culture, migration, and social justice. It supports educators in integrating Central American studies into classrooms through bilingual and culturally responsive curricula. The organization emphasizes storytelling, art, and historical analysis to foster understanding of the region and its diaspora.

named programs · 7 · from sources

what they call their work

Cultural Identity Preservation Through Storytelling
Bilingual mini-unit for 1st grade students to explore family and community migrant stories through oral tradition, writing, and art
Geography is History: Locate the Countries of Central America
Interactive map lesson helping students identify Central American countries using historical and geographical clues
Mama and Papa Have a Store
Teaching unit based on a memoir of a Chinese-Guatemalan family running a store, exploring multicultural life in Guatemala City
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale
Lesson based on Duncan Tonatiuh’s book addressing migration experiences, family separation, and border crossing for elementary and middle school students
Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del arcoíris
Curriculum companion to a children's book highlighting Guatemalan indigenous weaving traditions and innovation using recycled materials
Rediscovering America/Redescubriendo América
Bilingual collection of stories, essays, poetry, and songs on conquest and resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean for K-12 use
Resistance and Advocacy of Marginalized Communities
Dual immersion Spanish mini-unit for 4th grade students on the Garifuna people, forced migration, and resistance to erasure
activities · 1 cluster

what they do

  • Central America Education Initiative 12 activities
    • Conduct research on U.S. educational materials about Central America
      Produces critical research analyzing the representation of Central America in U.S. history textbooks, including publication of findings in academic outlets such as Rethinking Schools magazine. The work highlights systemic misrepresentations and advocates for more accurate historical narratives in K-12 education.
    • Conduct research on U.S. educational narratives about Central America
      Produces critical research analyzing how U.S. history textbooks represent (or misrepresent) Central America, with findings published in academic and education-focused outlets such as Rethinking Schools magazine.
    • Critique U.S. History Textbooks
      Publishes critiques of U.S. history textbook coverage of Central America, such as "Six Ways U.S. History Textbooks Mislead Students About the History Between Central America and the United States," to highlight inaccuracies and biases in educational materials.
    • Curate and distribute educational resources on Central America
      Provides free access to a wide range of classroom-ready materials including lesson plans, book lists, biographies, poetry, prose, and multimedia content focused on Central America for K-12 educators and students. Resources are organized thematically and by grade level, covering history, culture, migration, and U.S. foreign policy impacts.
    • Curate and distribute educational resources on Central America
      Provides free, accessible educational materials including lesson plans, book lists, biographies, poetry, prose, and multimedia content about Central America for K-12 educators and students across multiple subjects and grade levels.
    • Develop and Distribute Central American Educational Resources
      Develops and provides free access to a wide range of educational resources, including lessons, book lists, biographies, readings, and films, focused on Central America for K-12 and college-level students and teachers. These resources cover thematic topics such as immigration, U.S. involvement in Latin American conflicts, indigenous cultures, and historical events.
    • Develop and Distribute Central American Educational Resources
      Develops and provides free access to a wide range of educational resources, including lessons, book lists, biographies, readings, and films, focused on Central America for K-12 and college-level students and teachers. These resources cover thematic topics such as immigration, U.S. involvement in Latin American conflicts, indigenous cultures, and historical events.
    • Host annual "Teach Central America Week" initiative
      Organizes and promotes an annual education campaign during the first full week of October, engaging hundreds of teachers nationwide in dedicated instruction about Central America, particularly during Latinx Heritage Month. The initiative includes curated resources and encourages widespread classroom participation.
    • Host annual "Teach Central America Week" initiative
      Organizes and promotes an annual week-long educational campaign during the first full week of October, coinciding with Latinx Heritage Month, engaging hundreds of teachers nationwide in dedicated instruction about Central America.
    • Organize Teach Central America Week
      Launches and hosts "Teach Central America Week" annually during the first full week of October, an initiative that encourages hundreds of teachers nationwide to commit to teaching about Central America during Latinx Heritage Month.
    • Organize Teach Central America Week
      Launches and hosts "Teach Central America Week" annually during the first full week of October, an initiative that encourages hundreds of teachers nationwide to commit to teaching about Central America during Latinx Heritage Month.
    • Research and Critique U.S. History Textbooks
      Conducts research and publishes critiques on the coverage of Central America in U.S. history textbooks, such as the article "Six Ways U.S. History Textbooks Mislead Students About the History Between Central America and the United States" in Rethinking Schools magazine.
financials · form 990PF · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$39K
Contributions & grants$38K98%
Program service revenue
Investment income$7262%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$1K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$18K
balance sheet
Total assets$179K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$179K
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +267.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 2
  • PHILIP KISLAK — BOARD MEMBER
  • ROBERT ENRIQUE KETCHAM — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • Central American Studies in K-12 Curriculum Project Partner — Developed bilingual Spanish mini-units as part of this project.
  • Central American Studies in K-12 Curriculum Project Partner — Develops curriculum units focused on Central American history and culture.
  • Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) Partner — Produced teaching guides for books like "Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote" and "A Movie in My Pillow" on behalf of the Américas Award.
  • Council on Interracial Books for Children (CIBC) Partner — Published a critical review of Central America's representation in U.S. textbooks, which the organization references.
  • D.C. Public Schools Funder — Provides funding for the site.
  • El Norte Partner — Provides access to the film El Norte for classroom instruction.
  • Groundwood Books Partner — Published an activity guide for the book "Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup."
  • Harvest of Empire Partner — Provides access to the film Harvest of Empire for educational use.
  • Latin American and Iberian Institute at the University of New Mexico Funder — Provides funding for the site.
  • Lee & Low Books Partner — Published teaching guides for books like "Rainbow Weaver," "Mama and Papa Have a Store," "Abuela's Weave," and "Xochitl and the Flowers."
  • Network of Educators’ Committees on Central America (NECCA) Partner — Draws on the work of educators from NECCA, which later incorporated as Teaching for Change.
  • Panta Rhea Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the site.
  • Rethinking Schools Partner — Published an article by the organization's interns critiquing U.S. history textbook coverage of Central America.
  • Teaching Central America Network — Hosts educational resources on Central American history and themes.
  • Teaching for Change Partner — Launched Teach Central America Week.
  • Teaching for Change Partner — Launched the Teaching Central America campaign and provides support for teaching about Central America.
  • Teaching for Change Partner — Launched the campaign to provide resources for teaching about Central America and offers free downloadable lessons.
  • Teaching for Change Partner — Their Tellin’ Stories project provides a guide to read aloud for "Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup."
  • The History Project at UC Irvine Partner — The Central American Studies in K-12 Curriculum Project is housed at The History Project at UC Irvine.
  • When We Were Young Partner — Collaborates on lessons and instructional units related to Central American history and immigration.