Hello and welcome! I've been teaching the Social Sciences (American Government, U.S. History, Modern World History, and Cultural Geography) for over 10 years at the secondary level. I have taught at both public and private schools.
I graduated from California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) with a BA in History and a California Teaching Credential in the Social Sciences. I graduated with a MFA in Screenwriting from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles (NYFA) and later received my MA in History from CSUEB.
I love watching films and scripted television. I love reading non-fiction (especially history related to the American presidency, U.S. history, westward expansion, the Cold War, Hollywood, and the Civil War/Reconstruction) and comic books. I love Nintendo. I love to write action/adventure, sci-fi, and/or comedy film or television screenplays.
"There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know."
-Harry S. Truman
KEVIN GARCIA
HISTORY BY KEVIN
M.A. in History (2022)
M.F.A. in Screenwriting (2009)
Clear California Teaching Credential in the Social Sciences (2003)
B.A. in History (2001)
Philosophy of Teaching
I believe that teaching is a performance of educational material to engage students and expose them to the unknown or to clarify and expand their knowledge on information needed to be a better human and citizen of their country. Every person is a student and each student has the right to learn and learn in their own way. A teacher plans and decides what to present and how to present the material for each day of instruction. A teacher must be able to manage a classroom filled with diverse learners both in terms of culture and learning abilities.
I bring a passion for history and the social sciences to my lessons. I am a storyteller with an interest in entertaining while educating a classroom of learners. In my classroom, there are no stupid questions and there should be no stress while learning. Education does not need to be a stress inducing endeavor whether in the classroom or at home. History is presented with honesty rooted in evidence-based information.
I hope students get a lot out of a history lesson, from a simple fact to an understanding that can reshape their thinking and approach to life. I hope to encourage curiosity in history outside the classroom. I hope to inspire students to love history and become inquisitive about their own past.
Statement on Diversity
Diversity means that there are a variety of thought and people. Inclusion is key to diversity in that all are to be included in any discussion. For too long one perspective has dominated. History has shown that more and more voices have fought to be heard and share the stage of discussion in an equitable way. To quote the fictional character Spock from the STAR TREK universe, “infinite diversity in infinite combinations” is what should be the ultimate goal for all of humanity.
Diversity in a history classroom helps provide a history that is note simply from one perspective with one outlook. There is more to the past than one view. There are more voices from that past who have not been heard and should be heard. Just as there are diverse learners in a classroom, both in terms of learning abilities and cultural backgrounds. A welcoming classroom which provides for diverse voices to be heard both in the lesson and in the learners.
I am a first-generation American and a homosexual, so I view the world through a particular lens. My parents were born on the Portuguese islands called the Açores (Azores) in the Atlantic Ocean, while I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area. I can speak and read, a little, Portuguese and Spanish. I have taught in diverse classrooms in the San Francisco East Bay's Alameda County, as well as in Los Angeles and Orange counties. I can empathize with the new arrival or the outsider hidden among the crowd. I can see how sometimes not everyone is represented. I can see how some people can feel not represented or seen by others. I know what it is like to be different and considered weird when in reality weird is part of diversity in a normal world.
Testimonials
Excerpts from letters of recommendation.
"I have been especially impressed by Kevin’s dedication to his subject. He has created lessons, activities and tests for each of our social science classes that reinforce and enhance the knowledge of our students. His classroom is filled with wonderful images, quotes, and graphics that are relevant to the current classes he is teaching."
"Over the time that I have known Kevin, he has consistently performed his duties with competence and often goes the extra mile, doing more than expected. He is a self-starter, a team player, a hard worker, and a collaborative person. Kevin excels in developing engaging curriculum and instruction for a diverse classroom of learners."
"Kevin has consistently demonstrated professionalism, exuded a passion for teaching and exhibited a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. By his example, Kevin encourages those around him to strive for excellence."
"I hired and worked with Kevin to create an interactive travel book for Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York, and Boston. He created an enriching and fun guide that used social media to connect students’ experiences. In fact, we still use the book today! Kevin was great to work with, provided insightful features and never missed a deadline. In my career, Kevin is among the very best people I have worked with."