• Meet Vista's Social Studies Teachers...
     
     
     
    BA Social Studies - University of California, Berkeley
    MA Education - Virginia Commonwealth University
    National Board Certified Teacher - Social Science/History
    Teaches US History

    LEARNING AND TEACHING HISTORY MEANS digging deeper TO ME SINCE there is always more to the story than we think!          

    IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND in Washington DC in the early 1860s, ENJOYING dinner with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln BECAUSE I can only imagine a conversation between these two great men.             .

    MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE  the Roaring Twenties Party Reenactment SINCE I get to watch my kids dance the Charleston!

    I BELIEVE Helen Keller IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE she is much more complex than most people realize.  She was a feminist, a radical, a supporter of the NAACP, and a founder of the ACLU.  She was an amazing advocate of economic and social justice in our country. 

    IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE that they grow to be informed world citizens. 

     
      
     
     
    BA International Studies - Johns Hopkins University
    MS Curriculum & Instruction - Western Governors University
    Teaches AP Psychology

    LEARNING AND TEACHING HISTORY MEANS  inspiring students to be excited to analyze and create understands of the past BECAUSE they need to understand the present.

    IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND on the moon with Neil Armstrong ENJOYING iced tea because the views would be tremendous. The photo of Earth from the moon known as Earthrise, taken by astronaut William Anders, has always inspired me. 

    MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE congratulating students right after they have an “aha” moment  SINCE I love to see the lightbulbs switch on.

    I BELIEVE Teddy Roosevelt  IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE even though he had his flaws, he fought hard through personal health issues to be a lifelong reader and prolific writer, and a courageous president.

    IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE that they continue to learn and challenge themselves throughout their lives.

     

    Sarah Deters
     
    BA History - Sacramento State University
    MA Sports Psychology - John F. Kennedy University
    Teaches Sociology and World Cultures
     
    LEARNING AND TEACHING HISTORY is understanding our past and how our stories evolved TO ME SINCE I have begun to trace my own family's history and heritage.

    IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND Ed Sullivan's Theatre in 1964, ENJOYING  America's introduction to the Beatles. 

    MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE engaging and interactive activties SINCE I get to see my students' personalities shine.

    I BELIEVE Abigail Adams IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE she spoke her mind at a time when women doften didn't, and helped to influence the founding of our nation.

    IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE to find something you love and pursue it wholeheartedly.  

     

    Dan Hess 

    dhess@fcusd.org

    Teaches AP Government/Economics

    Julie Lazar

     
    BA History - University of California, Los Angeles
    Teaches US History and AP US History
     
    LEARNING AND TEACHING HISTORY means bringing history alive and delving into all the interesting details TO ME SINCE  it is a rich story with so many interesting characters. 

    IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND in the time our country was being formed (1780s) ENJOYING listening to Hamilton and Jefferson go at it at a cabinet meeting. 

    MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE historical speed dating SINCE students get a chance to take on the personas of important historical figures and interact with each other.  

    I BELIEVE Queen Elizabeth IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE she was a strong woman who has led her country to its golden age during a time women were not seen as equals to men.  

    IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE that they leave my class with an appreciation for history and the feeling that I genuinely cared about them as people.  
      
     
    BA History - Sacramento State University
     Teaches World Cultures and AP World History
     
    LEARNING AND TEACHING HISTORY MEANS everything TO ME SINCE I developed a love of history when I was in high school.

    IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND in 1st century Rome, ENJOYING the sights and sounds BECAUSE that period of history has always fascinated me.

    MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE relevant discussion of the topic SINCE students gain so much more knowledge through question and answer.

    I BELIEVE Mohandas Gandhi IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE his accomplishments are so hard to believe.

    IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE to develop a lifelong love of history, just as I have.

     

    Josh Roden

    Teaches World Cultures and US History

     

     

    Luke Schwan

    lschwan@fcusd.org

    Teaches government/econ and AP Human Geography

     

     

    Zachary Woodward

    BA Social Science - Humboldt State University 
    MA Education - Teachers College of San Joaquin
     Teaches Government/Economics

    LEARNING AND TEACHING GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS MEANS coming to an understanding that there are varying perspectives on the role of the government in society and in the economy.

     IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD LAND IN the California foothills in 1848, enjoying the development of the gold mining towns and industry that we still have relics of today.

     MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY IN CLASS WOULD HAVE TO BE any time students debate different perspectives on economic policy or the role of government in society.

     I BELIEVE (Milton Friedman) IS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE SINCE he challenged the economic theories of the time and had a way of explaining his views/theories in a way that anyone could understand.

     IF I HAD A WISH FOR MY STUDENTS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE that they are open to the idea that everyone has different perspectives on society based on their own life experiences and that it is okay to not always see eye to eye.