Emily Zheng

Social Studies teachers Frank McCaughey, Frank Spitaleri, and Jake Ruiz (from left to right).

At the end of the 2024-2025 school year, members of the history department shared reflections on how the department has changed recently and visions for the future with The Classic.

According to Assistant Principal of World Languages and Social Studies Rafal Olechowski, one of the biggest changes in recent years has been the addition of new staff members. 

“Some notable people retired recently, people who have been here for a while,” he said, referring to former social studies teachers Franco Scardino, Chris Hackney, and Adam Stonehill. In addition, Mr. Olechowski said some teachers from the Instructional Support Services (ISS) department became full time social studies teachers in recent years, leading to a number of new faces in the department. 

“I think they all bring new and very different ways of teaching,” said AP World History teacher Jake Ruiz, who moved over to the department from the ISS team. 

AP World History and ISS teacher Frank Spitaleri said another highlight of the department’s recent work relates to the ninth grade curriculum. 

“So what we’ve been trying to do in the department is figure out how to make the ninth-grade curriculum…a little bit better than it is now, so that students feel more prepared for AP when they go into the 10th grade,” Mr. Spitaleri said. He also said they are discussing ways to make the course more fun by involving more creative projects.

He said part of the push for change resulted from changes in how the AP world history class was structured as a two-year course for freshmen and sophomores; previously, they would take AP year one and AP year two, respectively. The College Board changed the system some time ago, but it left a need to rethink links between the freshman and sophomore history classes.

Beyond curriculum, other teachers said the department is thinking about the nature of assignments in history courses. Social Studies teacher David Lonborg raised a growing issue that the department is discussing: students’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a shortcut rather than a tool.

“An overarching concern is the growing problem of AI being used as a substitute for actual research or writing. This has been addressed through various tools, including TurnItIn.com, which checks for plagiarism and other potential AI uses,” said Mr. Lonborg.

Beyond that, members of the department said their overall goal remains to instill a love for history in students.

“I feel a lot of students these days tend to prioritize STEM, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but at the same time, history’s important,” said Mr. Spitaleri.

“I believe that there’s something in its name,” said Mr. Olechowski. “So, history, there is a story to everything. So when we study history, the best way is to ask, whose story…is it.” He said knowing these stories isn’t just about the past: “If you don’t [know] where you were, it’s very difficult to see where…you’re going to.”