Kathy Wildman

teacher, history, social studies, Chantilly High School

Kathy Wildman has taught world religions in Fairfax County, Virginia, for 15 years. She is the co-author of the course curriculum for the county. The year-long elective course for high school juniors and seniors is an introduction to world religions exploring basic beliefs, theology, historical and cultural connections in an effort to help students develop an intellectual frame of reference for varied religious worldviews. She is a frequent presenter at teacher training sessions at the county and state levels and has spoken on educational panels both locally and nationally. Additionally, she has worked with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and specifically with OSCE's human rights arm, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). In this capacity she worked with educational and political leaders from the Balkan region in their efforts to create a required world religions course using the ODIHR's document, The Toledo Guiding Principles for Teaching About Religions. Her role included presenting and working in small groups to model teaching, methodology and content that all stakeholders might potentially agree on to be both fair and honest, particularly to the beliefs of the religions and religious branches represented in the region. Wildman holds a B.A. in Political Science from Southern Methodist University and an M.Ed in Education with a concentration in Secondary Social Studies from George Washington University.