In an effort to foster a safer and more inclusive school environment, East Brunswick High School hosted Dr. Stacy Gallin, Director of CARMA Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, for a professional development session with faculty and staff. The training reached approximately 160 teachers and staff members.

The urgency of the initiative was underscored by a sobering statistic shared by the school’s principal: 100% of religion-related Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) reports filed at the school last year were related to antisemitism. In response, the district made it a priority to equip educators with the knowledge and tools they need before the school year fully begins—when such incidents typically start to surface.

Dr. Gallin’s training focused on defining antisemitism, recognizing its many forms, and identifying ways educators can actively support students who experience it. A key emphasis of the session was the importance of creating classrooms where respectful dialogue is the norm and where all students feel safe, heard, and valued.

Faculty received specific guidance on how to respond when a student reports an antisemitic incident. The training highlighted the need to:

• Make the student feel safe and supported.
• Follow school protocols without losing sight of the student’s emotional needs.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the student and their family.

Educators were also trained on how to properly respond to incidents they witness firsthand—including how to document and report them—regardless of whether a student chooses to remain anonymous. Staff were reminded of the CARMA helpline, which can assist in maintaining anonymity or help guide students through the reporting process in a way that aligns with both their needs and the broader mission of fostering inclusivity.

Importantly, all incidents—regardless of whether they meet the legal threshold for an HIB designation—should be reported to both the New Jersey Attorney General's office and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to ensure they are properly documented as bias incidents.

The impact of the training was felt immediately. Several teachers approached Dr. Gallin afterward to share that they had previously witnessed antisemitic behavior in their classrooms but had not known how to respond. After the session, they reported feeling more confident and better equipped to handle such situations. Some even expressed interest in having Dr. Gallin return to speak directly with students.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many educators expressing appreciation for both the timing of the training and the access to ongoing resources throughout the year.

CARMA is proud to continue serving as an ally and resource for East Brunswick High School as the district takes steps toward combating antisemitism and reinforcing multicultural acceptance in every classroom.