Courtney Anderson’s social studies classroom utilizes inquiry-based learning methods balanced with topics that help students foster their critical thinking skills as they learn how to develop compelling questions, conduct historical research, analyze primary and secondary sources, and develop conclusions with evidence. Doing all of this in an environment where students feel known and cared for. 

Courtney earned her BA in History and BA in Secondary Education: Broadfield Social Studies Grades 5 – 12 from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Since then, she has taught middle school social studies in Arizona and Virginia. She has served as a Student Government sponsor as well as a Social Studies Instructional Division Leader. 

Courtney has always known that she wanted to be a teacher and wants to teach her students that history is not the past but the study of the past. She emphasizes that we do not know for certain what happened in the past, instead, we construct our understanding of the past by piecing together information from texts, images, and artifacts left behind by those who came before us. From there, students are able to grapple meaningfully with themes such as identity, culture, conflict, power, and technology.