By Monica David
English Teacher, Breck Middle School
2026 recipient of the Leo Weiss Courage to Teach Award

The following are the acceptance remarks delivered by Monica David at the 2026 Yom HaShoah Commemoration [view recording]:

I grew up in what was then communist Romania, a country governed by fear, firmly under the yoke of the Soviet Union. Just before I started high school, however, the Revolution of 1989 took place, freedom was restored, and a fragile democracy emerged. Having witnessed what it took to move from oppression to freedom, I thought, gave me a perspective wider than most. I was wrong, of course. All I understood was what I had lived and what I’d been told.

No matter what values we are taught as we grow up, no matter our background, we are limited to what we experience and the stories we hear. We cannot assume that the children and youth we are tasked with nurturing are different, whether it comes to history or the present. While today we have unlimited access to information, that doesn’t guarantee we seek it–or that we look beyond the angles provided by our own echo chambers. It’s my job as an educator to support my students in stepping out of that sphere and learning more about each other and the concentric circles of our immediate community, our country, and the world.

This is why, when it comes to my work as an English teacher, I strive to do more than sharpen my students’ reading and writing skills. In my classroom, literature and primary sources are vehicles for expanding worldviews. In teaching about the Holocaust–a profound failure of humanity–I aim to entwine personal stories with information in a way that leads students to make connections between the texts they read, history, and current events. I aim to help widen their perspective. The materials we use, including and especially the testimonies from the Jewish Community Relations Council speakers, help provide that perspective, and more importantly, they emphasize what happens when voices are silent and bystanders remain bystanders.

Being able to meet and learn directly from descendants of survivors is a key part of my students’ understanding of history as it is linked to the present and the impact of our actions and inactions. Through learning about individuals and their joys and sorrows, we open our hearts to others, which may well make the difference between choosing to stand up or remain silent. We learn to recognize the seeds of hate in casual remarks or cruel jokes that target someone’s identity, in stereotypes we perpetuate even without knowing. We find courage to act and prevent hate from growing, first within our circles of acquaintances, then our community and beyond.

I want to thank the JCRC speakers for their open hearts, their candor and courage in telling us their stories. Special gratitude goes to Meira Besikof, without whom these visits would have never taken place. I am grateful to Leo Weiss’ family for the award and especially the lesson embedded within: to act with courage. I am humbled and honored to receive the Leo Weiss Courage to Teach Award. It stands as a constant reminder of my moral imperative: to teach my students to be critical thinkers and vigilant decoders of our world. By learning to recognize the seeds of hate in what they read, hear, or see, they gain the courage to stand against it. It may not be enough, but it is a necessary and sturdy place to start.

Monica David, born and raised in Romania, graduated from Transylvania University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education and a minor in Romanian. Driven by a desire to deepen her study of languages and cultures, she earned a Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. After a few years teaching English as a Foreign Language in her hometown, Monica relocated to the United States, where she has taught middle school for over two decades. 

Currently, Monica teaches seventh-grade English at Breck School in Golden Valley, MN, where reading and writing serve as a vital lens through which to explore humanity and a foundation for cultural understanding. As an experienced middle school educator, Monica places growth beyond academic knowledge and skills at the heart of her practice. She strives to empower her students to become the best version of themselves – not only as readers and writers, but as thoughtful, engaged community members. Monica lives in Minneapolis with her wife, also a middle school educator, and their daughter, a middle school student. 

The Leo Weiss Courage To Teach Award, given by JCRC, annually recognizes one educator who goes beyond the requirements of curriculum to teach and inspire young people about the lessons of the Holocaust. The Leo Weiss Courage to Teach Award has been given to an exceptional and impactful educator since 2011. 

Nominations we received for Monica David stated: 

“Monica David has demonstrated a deep commitment to teaching about the Holocaust and both historical and contemporary Jewish culture. She incorporates a variety of mediums and perspectives into her lessons, highlighting everything from composers and artists to influential figures to help broaden student’s understanding of context and relevance. She works diligently to prepare her students to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and thoughtfully examine the connections between the Holocaust and the complex issues we face in the world today…” 

“…she does a great job in teaching her 7th grade students about the Holocaust through literature. In addition to small book groups which allow the students to analyze the text, she has invited JCRC speakers (Holocaust survivor family descendants) to her classroom since 2023. While the speakers are in the classroom, she helps the students make connections between the experiences of the survivors and the books they are reading.” 

“Her students are prepared and engaged- and relating what they’ve learned in class to the story I’ve shared, and then building from that a framework for personal growth. Monica often interjects with stories from her own personal story that authenticates and magnifies the power of the lessons learned… I think she represents what is best about education- helping students understand their world through history, literature, and learning and applying those lessons to their own lives within a moral and ethical society.” 

Additionally, Breck Middle School Director, Skylar Fauver shared: 

“…she is beyond committed to ensuring her students are on paths to becoming humanitarians… this award could not be more suitable for Monica, and she for it.” 

The Courage to Teach award was named in memory of Holocaust survivor Leo Weiss.  Leo believed unequivocally in the value of human life – that it is a precious gift that must be defended and cherished.  Leo’s message to students was that in the face of adversity, they should remain hopeful for the future and see themselves not as victims of their circumstances but empowered to leave their mark on this earth through hard work and compassion for others. Leo’s commitment to Holocaust education was his contribution to protecting future generations from the horrors he experienced. His legacy lives on in these students.  

The award includes a paid trip for Monica David to participate on our annual day trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. This year’s trip will be on Tuesday, April 28.