Educators from St. Croix gathered at the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park Thursday evening for a teacher roundtable focused on developing classroom resources that connect territorial status, economic development, and community health. The discussion highlighted how these interconnected topics shape students’ understanding of the territory and their role as future community leaders.
The event featured Historian Joanna Poblete, Ph.D., who shared her work over the summer in collaboration with educators Chalana Brown, Sayeeda Carter, and Monica Marin. Together, they developed a four-lesson unit plan and teacher’s edition/guide on these topics, designed for students in grades 11 and up. The resources are freely available online and aim to provide teachers with practical tools to make these subjects relevant and engaging.
The fee online archive is a project started by Joanna Poblete, professor of history at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. Since 2018, Poblete has researched the health experiences of people on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA period, from the 1960s to 2012.
After finding that historic health data from that period was difficult to access — and inspired by the 2021 “Building Environmental Justice on STX” project at Bennington College, developed by David Bond in collaboration with Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, the VI Good Food Coalition, and the St. Croix Environmental Association — Poblete launched a yearlong online survey to collect information on health experiences on St. Croix during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA era.
“I hope students can see how political status, economic growth, and public health are connected to their daily lives,” Poblete said. “These materials give educators concrete ways to bring those connections into the classroom.”
During the roundtable, educators shared their own classroom experiences and discussed strategies for engaging students in complex topics. Participants explored ways to integrate local history, current events, and civic engagement projects into lessons. Ideas ranged from case studies of local businesses and public health initiatives to student-led research projects on territorial policies and economic trends.
Teachers emphasized making lessons interactive. Local ecologist and environmental activist Olasee Davis said, “When students can connect the dots between policy decisions, economic outcomes, and health in their own communities, the learning becomes real.” Carter, who attended the round table, added, “Students are more engaged when they see how government decisions impact the lives of people they know. It sparks curiosity and responsibility.”
The discussion also covered challenges in teaching these topics. Several educators noted that while students are often aware of local issues, they sometimes struggle to see the larger connections. Poblete encouraged teachers to use the unit plan’s guided questions and activities to bridge that gap. “It’s about asking the right questions and encouraging students to explore solutions themselves,” she explained.
Participants responded positively to the hands-on activities included in the materials. Davis said, “The case studies and discussion prompts give students opportunities to think critically rather than just memorize facts. That’s exactly what our classrooms need.” Marin, who was also present, noted the potential for cross-curricular projects, linking social studies, economics, and health education in one cohesive lesson.
This week, Poblete will meet with educators on St. Croix to share the free teaching materials and demonstrate ways they can be incorporated into curricula.
Educators at the roundtable expressed excitement about the resources and the opportunity to collaborate on lessons that promote critical thinking and active citizenship. “The goal is to prepare students not just for tests, but to understand their community and participate in shaping its future,” said Marin. Others added that the materials could serve as a model for teacher collaboration across the territory.
The roundtable and related events reflect a broader effort to support teachers in the Virgin Islands, provide relevant instructional materials, and encourage students to engage deeply with topics that affect the territory’s social, economic, and political landscape. By equipping teachers with interactive resources, the initiative aims to inspire a new generation of informed and engaged citizens ready to contribute to the territory’s future.
The site is a free, online space for the public to access community health data, historic materials, and other resources connected to health experiences on St. Croix, particularly during the Hess Oil/HOVENSA period from the 1960s to 2012. The website also includes a link for anyone to fill out a health survey or share a quick story about health experiences during that period. Anyone with documents they would like uploaded to the archive for community access can send materials to STXcommunityhealtharchive@gmail.com. To view the lesson plans, educators can visit https://research.cgu.edu/stxcommunityhealth/.
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