My name is Annette Ayers, 20 year navy war veteran and certified as an
elementary public school teacher in the state of Virginia.

In 2006 I became a public school teacher because my elementary school
teacher changed my life forever. My teacher balanced the learning. He taught his class who the africa were before africans were forced into slave
trade.

During my elementary years, learning that african was a thriving civilization
before the slave trade made me a better and more engaged student. While
learning about African contribution in class, I felt seen and became a less
disruptive student. What a life changing experience. Therefore I dedicated the rest of my life, fighting to ensure African contribution is added to the elementary social studies curriculum. Everyone benefits...students benefit, teachers benefit and the world benefits.

After 17yrs as a public school teacher, I made a life changing decision, I
came out of the public classroom, to create a new class, The King's
Classroom. And created a lesson plan that Dr. Martin Luther King would
be proud of. Asking parents and local communities work with me, and together, petition your board of education and insist our elementary students are taught
African contribution before our studernts are taught about the slave trade.