Anne Frank: A History for Today
Wayland Union Schools was honored to host the “Anne Frank: A History for Today” traveling exhibit throughout the month of March. This 32-panel exhibit, created by the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina, presented the history of the Holocaust through the perspective of Anne Frank and her family. By pairing photographs of the Frank family with historical images, the exhibit explored Anne’s story, the broader history of the Holocaust, and the lasting lessons her legacy continues to teach about resilience.
Designed to encourage student dialogue, the exhibit created a powerful and personal learning experience. Students close in age to Anne Frank at the time she wrote her diary played a key role in sharing her story. Twenty-one middle and high school students completed a two-day training, where they studied the exhibit content in depth and learned how to guide visitors through the panels. Each tour offered a unique perspective, as student docents connected with and highlighted different aspects of the exhibit that resonated with them.
“Our student docents have done something really special through this experience,” explains Teresa Fulk, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. “They haven’t just learned about an important moment in world history, they’ve stepped into leadership roles, developed strong facilitation skills, and taken ownership of sharing that learning with others. I’m incredibly proud of their dedication and the way they’ve represented our district by leading their peers and engaging our community with such thoughtfulness and care.”
The exhibit arrived at the beginning of March for setup and training, with tours beginning during the second week of the month. All students in grades 4 through 12, along with staff members, had the opportunity to experience the exhibit during its time at Wayland Union Schools. The district also hosted two community nights on March 12 and March 25 at the new Administration Building, welcoming families and community members to engage with the exhibit. Attendees also had the opportunity to view “The Ice Cream Man,” a film shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film told the true story of Ernst Cahn, whose courage and selflessness stood in defiance of the Nazis during World War II.
Wayland Union Schools extends its sincere appreciation to the Wayland Union Education Foundation for its generous support of this experience. The Foundation sponsored t-shirts for the student docents and provided refreshments during the community nights, helping to create a welcoming and memorable experience for all who attended.
Hosting this exhibit was part of a larger, county-wide initiative to provide students with meaningful opportunities to engage with history. Through a partnership with the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency and the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina, along with support from the Allegan County Community Foundation, the exhibit will remain in Allegan County for three years. Each AAESA school district will host the exhibit for one month, with Allegan Public Schools serving as the first host in December 2025.
