Prasidha Padmanabhan, a rising junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is making it her mission to highlight more women in history classes at FCPS. Padmanabhan is the founder and president of WEAR (Women for Education, Advocacy and Rights). WEAR worked alongside FCPS educators to develop curriculum for elementary and middle school students recognizing the accomplishments of women, with an emphasis on women of color. 

These women include Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old girl who spread the word of British attack during the American Revolution; Susie King Taylor, who served as a nurse during the Civil War; and Claudette Colvin, who was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat in segregated Alabama in 1955. 

“I want the next generation of FCPS students to learn about diverse women's history the way I wanted to when I was younger,”  Padmanabhan said. “It truly felt amazing seeing the curriculum in action this past spring. It was not only incredibly heartwarming but also so inspiring. I saw how much of an impact it made on the students and their learning.”

FCPS Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Specialist Deborah March worked with Padmanabhan to develop the female-centered history lessons.

“All of our students deserve to see themselves represented in our curriculum,” March said. “Prasidha’s contributions remind us that we can and should partner with students to address gaps in the stories our curriculum tells about our past and present. Her work is an important reminder of the power of all of our students to take informed action to shape our community and world.”

Watch Padmanabhan's story featured on CBS Mornings here.