Ayleen Charles, a social studies teacher at Sunlight Christian Academy in Port St. Lucie, makes September 11 a centerpiece of her classroom each fall. Charles, who has taught at the school for nearly a decade, uses survivor stories, images, and audio recordings to help students understand a day they never lived through.
Charles said her students have only known a world shaped by the attacks. To make the history feel real, she shares firsthand accounts from those who were there, including voicemails left by people on the airplanes. Charles said she wants to show students the realness of what happened, not just something printed in a history book.
Part of the lesson includes explaining how everyday life changed after the attacks. Charles said students are shocked when she tells them people used to be able to pass through what is now TSA security and watch airplanes take off from the gate. The lessons also cover how the nation came together after the tragedy.
Charles said the responsibility to remember will be carried forward by the students she teaches. She wants them to understand how the attacks impacted the people they know and the world they live in today. For Charles, the mission is personal. She said the people who lost their lives because of an act of hatred deserved to be remembered, and their legacy deserved to be carried on.