John Snoad

Senior Manager |
Sphere Education Initiatives | M. Ed. | 34+Yrs. Retired Public Educator -Social Sciences

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

Really excited for the release! @SphereEdIn is celebrating the 250th in so many ways with all sorts of new content and materials.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

"Fulfilling the Promise" is a new documentary from Sphere Education Initiatives, directed by Lena Popilieva. It's a timely portrait of civic education that asks a question at the heart of the American experiment: are we living up to our founding principles?

Through four schools in Brooklyn, New York, Boston, Massachusetts, Durango, Colorado, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the film shows how teachers and students bring the Declaration of Independence to life, discussing its principles through the framework of civil discourse.

Not merely an appreciation of the history of the Declaration, this documentary explores how teachers and students play a vital role in keeping these principles alive and, as Dr. King noted in his “I have a Dream” speech, better fulfilling the promise of the Declaration as a promissory note for future generations.

Follow our page to stay updated when the full documentary drops this summer.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Meet the educators leading the way for civil discourse in classrooms across the country.

We’re proud to introduce Sphere’s 2026–2027 Educator Ambassadors!

These educators will bring Sphere’s professional development and resources to classrooms and conferences across the country. We’re honored to have them as part of the Sphere community.

Meet them all in this thread:

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

“Know thyself.” That’s the first piece of advice that Rick Holifield gives to teachers navigating polarization in their classrooms.

Rick is an educational leader and a 2025–2026 Sphere Educator Ambassador. In this video, he explains that everyone has biases, even educators.

Rick’s reminder: start with yourself before you focus on your students. And when you do turn to them, don’t aim to change their minds. Aim to educate and inspire, and let meaningful change follow.

[Sarah Nestor Lane @slane_nestor]

Thanks to @HalBrands, @AllisonLMcManus & @katherinet57 for taking time out of their busy schedule to share their expertise with @SphereEdIn educators this weekend. A great discussion.
#TeacherSphere

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

"If you never run the risk of changing your mind, then you aren't really thinking."

@WDeresiewicz closed out day 2 of the 2026 Spring cohort of the Sphere Alumni Fellowship with a fascinating keynote speech.

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

Look at these two @SphereEdIn rock star alums! Thank you Sphere Ambassador @ShariConditt and Content Advisory Board member Britt Boyd for representing Sphere today at the Washington State Council for the Social Studies!
#TeacherSphere

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

The Teacher's Sphere podcast is back!

Host @KathleenKobi explores the balance teachers often need to find between freedom and structure, the ways that discomfort can be a powerful learning opportunity, and what it might mean for teachers to embrace uncertainty in their own teaching practice.

In honor of #CivicLearningWeek, we are celebrating the value of uncomfortable classroom conversations, and the educators who facilitate them.

(link in replies)

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

I love this picture! You all are the best and everyone @SphereEdIn appreciates you!

[Denise Paxton @ddboswell]

@jfsnoad @SphereEdIn We enjoyed having Sphere in Nevada!! Sphere alum in Nevada!!

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

This was so enjoyable and what an engaging discussion by all the panelists! So honored to moderate the discussion! @SphereEdIn #teachersphere

[N-NV Social Studies @NNCSSteachers]

Again, thanks so much to our panelists and them sharing their knowledge and perspectives in relation to our conference this year.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

"These educators come from across the political spectrum, but they all share a common goal: cultivating openness, curiosity, and civil discourse in their classrooms—then sending students into society with the habits of mind necessary for the responsibilities of citizenship."

Check out this excellent article by @HardoHardman about how Sphere is helping teachers make real impact in classrooms all over the country.

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

Had an amazing time representing @SphereEdIn at the @NNCSSteachers conference this past weekend. Our session "Game Plans for Civil Discourse" used sports as a unifier and as a lens for bringing people together across differences. Great conference! #teachersphere

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

“We have a mantra in my class: We’re a community, not a classroom.”

Meet Michael Gordon, an educator from Connecticut. Michael writes that “In my classroom, students understand that debates are not about winning or losing."

Michael is one of more than 20k exceptional educators in our Alumni network. Learn how you can join this community and deepen your own teaching practice on our website. @micsgordon

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Happy Frederick Douglass Day! Here's a free lesson you can teach on Monday.

Help your students explore his journey from enslavement to national leadership by downloading our free lesson: https://t.co/hMzzpwUScR

#Blackhistorymonth #DouglassDay #classroomlessons #teachers

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

A great day for @SphereEdIn at the Alabama Council for the Social Studies! What an excited group of educators, and so many with accolades of accomplishment. @ColmanBritt and I had a great talk with @NCSSNetwork president Tina Ellsworth! Hats off the everyone for a great day!

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

Really excited to meet with another cohort tomorrow! Excellent conversations today serve as groundwork for a pedagogical dive tomorrow.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Good conversations in Baton Rouge today.

John Snoad and Colman Britt spent the day with a group of educational leaders at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge exploring tools and resources to support classroom teachers in fostering civil discourse.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Today, @jfsnoad, @slane_nestor, and our newest team member Colman Britt spent time with educators at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

We’re grateful for the thoughtful questions, honest conversations, and the chance to learn alongside teachers doing this work every day.

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Wishing you a meaningful MLK Day! Dr. King believed education should cultivate both intelligence and character, while also empowering students to think critically, independently, and effectively.

We couldn't agree more.

If you're a high school educator, check out our free collection of classroom-ready lessons on the civil rights movement: https://t.co/INwxw3JlWH

#civilrights #martinlutherking #MLKday

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Post 2020, how do we help teachers feel empowered to lead hard conversations?

If you’re a Sphere alum with an idea you haven’t yet had the time or resources to build, Fellowship applications are now open: https://t.co/zJhXePhRu0

[Sphere Education Initiatives @SphereEdIn]

Thank you to everyone who participated in #NCSS25 this past weekend! Whether you visited our booth or joined one of our sessions, we’re grateful you stopped by.

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

@SphereEdIn

[John Snoad @jfsnoad]

Join us as our team gives a talk at AMLE25 on Navigating a Chilled and Polarized Educational Environment with Civil Discourse. Hoping for a great turnout! - via #Whova event app