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  • A Year in Books: 2024-2025 Reading List

    This year marked a transformative period in my reading life, with audiobooks becoming my primary mode of historical engagement while physical and digital formats served different purposes. Below is a complete accounting of my reading organized by format, along with recommendations for educators and history enthusiasts who might benefit from these works. Part One: Historic…

  • The Skills Gap: When AI Becomes a Crutch Instead of a Tool

    I’ve been teaching social studies long enough to remember when the biggest challenge was getting students to put away their phones during class discussions. Now? The phone isn’t just a distraction; it’s their first stop for every answer, every question, every moment of cognitive discomfort. Here’s the thing that keeps me up at night: I’m…

  • What If: The Baltic Defense League

    In an alternate history, a unified military confederation in Eastern Europe effectively counters Bolshevik expansion, significantly altering regional dynamics and preventing World War II.

  • Happy Snow Day Kentucky

  • The Bill of Rights Turns 233

    Using comics to teach the Bill of Rights engages students by transforming abstract legal principles into relatable narratives, facilitating understanding of constitutional law through visual storytelling and current events.

  • The Heart of Leadership: Valuing Others Above Self

    Today’s conversation with my freshmen about altruistic and culturally competent leadership reminded me why I love teaching government and civics. When we stripped away all the complexity, the students kept circling back to something fundamental: real leaders care about other people more than themselves. This isn’t the leadership we see valorized in movies or celebrated…