Hello

I am currently certified as a History teacher in MA for grades 5-12. I am also pursuing licensure in the Middle School Math/Science and expect to be licensed by September 1. I firmly believe that a school's curriculum must emphasize individual student growth within the context of the larger community. Schools must teach their students many things, and ways to be a responsible, active member of society is part of that mandate. I take great pride in that, over my last 3 years at Quincy High School, I have seen many of my students become more actively involved in their communities and in society. I have carried this belief over to my role as advisor of QHS’s National Honor Society. I have required that all NHS members must participate and improve the community in which they live. This past year, students in the National Honor Society have participated in “Cleaner, Greener Quincy”, The Walk for Hunger, Tutoring fellow students, and school cleanups. Education must include knowledge and learning across the educational disciplines. I routinely incorporate technology into my classroom. For example, students in my classes are required to create and present multimedia presentations for their classmates. Those who were most successful were able to combine audio, visual and text in an interesting and educational way. I encourage students to visit a website I created if they have missed notes or homework assignments. I also created a video library of primary sources. I believe that it is more effective to show the students important speeches from historical figures such as Martin Luther King and Betty Friedan,, than to have them read these speeches in a textbook. Sincerely, C. Adam Holtz