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Joanne Bluman, a passionate and dedicated Social Sciences teacher, came to teaching on the advice of her high school English teacher, Dr. Marilyn Whirry. The thirty-year veteran began her career at John Adams Junior High School, moving to Manual Arts High School after district reconfiguration. Here she created a culturally sensitive, nurturing, and supportive classroom. After five years in South Central Los Angeles, Ms. Bluman moved to Chatsworth Charter High School. She has taught world history, US History, AP United States History, and government/economics. Ms. Bluman is also the twenty-one-year veteran adviser of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association medalist yearbook, The Chancery. With her Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Social Science from CSUN, Ms. Bluman focuses on equitable grading practices and presenting culturally relevant topics by creating real-world connections. Finding unique community partnerships, her students created the Hometown Heroes Project with the Ronald Reagan Library in 2015 and participated in the Hamilton Education Project sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History since 2017. Annually, she collaborates with colleagues to implement project-based learning, creating schoolwide presentations including historical interactive cities and chalk art festivals. She advises CSUN and USC training teacher candidates. She served as department chair, on leadership councils, on the Los Angeles Unified School District US History Textbook Adoption Committee, and provides professional development on campus using technology to support Universal Design Learning. Ms. Bluman teaches A.P. African American Studies as part of the pilot program under the direction of the College Board.