SHIELD Provides Students, Parents with Valuable Resources

Seventh-grade students in Georgia have begun a two-month unit about the Middle East in their social studies classes – and SHIELD (Supporting Honest Instruction & Equitable Learning for our Diaspora), a grassroots organization founded by moms to counter antisemitism and anti-Israel bias in the classroom, wants to alert parents that their Quick Action Center is available as a resource for guidance and support if misinformation about Israel and Zionism is shared.

The Middle East unit, currently underway, covers geography, history, religion and politics. Israel is included in several of the lessons. Topics include the Holocaust, Zionism, the founding of Israel and modern-day conflicts, which can be among the most sensitive subjects in the state’s curriculum and carries a significant risk for distortion and bias. According to SHIELD co-founder Mindy Mielnikowski, this unit has historically been a flashpoint for misrepresentation.

This year, the Georgia Department of Education updated their website for teachers which provides notes for classroom instruction on a myriad of topics, including the Middle East. According to SHIELD co-founder Laura Zhiss, the changes mark a significant move by the state to make the information more accurate and unbiased.

Cobb County School District, in particular, also introduced a new modified curriculum about the Middle East this school year. In Cobb, teachers have been provided with updated classroom materials for teaching the unit, including presentations, online worksheets, reading materials and classroom exercises. In addition, seventh-grade teachers attended an in-service workshop held by the county to learn about how to teach the new curriculum to students in their classrooms. Seventh grade is when the bulk of Mideast studies is taught in middle school. The Atlanta Jewish Times covered a board meeting in the March 27, 2025, issue where several community members were in attendance.

“As a parent and board member, I’m proud we’re teaching our students, as early as middle school, the real deal on the Holocaust and Israel’s founding. We listened, learned, and built a curriculum that is accurate, and both helps kids understand the atrocity of the Holocaust and how to treat each other with respect,” said John Cristadoro, vice chair of the Cobb School Board.

“We are encouraged by the actions of the Cobb County School District in providing teachers with a six- to eight-week, day-by-day lesson plan, as well as vetted resources to support instruction. While the seventh-grade social studies curriculum is not without its imperfections, it represents a significant step forward from years past. For the first time, teachers across Cobb County will have clear guidance and consistent resources, ensuring that classroom materials meet an acceptable standard. SHIELD applauds this development as a meaningful improvement and an important safeguard for students,” said Mielnikowski, co-founder of SHIELD.

Born from lived experience and driven by urgency, SHIELD was founded by moms Mielnikowski and Zhiss, who witnessed firsthand how antisemitism and anti-Israel bias were creeping into their children’s classrooms. The Atlanta-based group supports honest instruction and balanced learning about Jewish and Israeli history and culture. Using data-driven advocacy to guide actions, the group fosters strong community partnerships that protect the integrity of educational systems throughout Georgia. SHIELD offers practical tools, a supportive community, and a clear pathway to take meaningful action.

Coinciding with the start of the 2025-2026 school year, SHIELD launched a Quick Action Center to support Jewish families throughout the state whose children may encounter misinformation or antisemitism in the classroom. The Center offers a valuable toolbox of resources, including a quick step action plan, an antisemitism detection checklist, an incident submission form for the Anti-Defamation League, sample letters to send to teachers and administrators, and other useful information. The founders also are available to help guide parents and students.

“In the beginning, we were just trying to figure out — on our own — how to respond when teachers brought biased or inaccurate information into the classroom. It felt overwhelming and isolating because there was no roadmap. Once Mindy and I came together, though, we realized we could navigate the system with more confidence and far less fear. That’s what led us to create SHIELD. We built it to give parents the tools, guidance, and support we wish we’d had — so no one has to feel alone or unsure about how to protect their child’s education,” said Zhiss.

SHIELD founders believe parents are their children’s best advocates, especially in today’s world. They advise parents that if something does not feel right in the classroom to trust their instincts and explore further.

“We want families to have a clear path forward and the reassurance that there are resources and a community to help them. We at SHIELD are here to help parents respond with confidence and clarity,” emphasized Mielnikowski.

SHIELD may be found at www.shieldk12.org. The SHIELD Quick Action Center may be accessed via www.shieldk12.org/about-1.