History

Stephen Norris, ’15 is a history teacher at Collegium Charter School, in Exton, PA. He has taught as the primary 9th grade history teacher, teaching 9th Grade World History Pre-AP. He has also taught U.S. History. He is the co-advisor to the Black Student Union. This past academic year, he was chosen by the students to deliver the commencement address for the graduation ceremony.

Kolby Gonzalez ('19) is currently a middle school teacher in the West Chester Area School district where he teaches US History and World Geography.  When he's not teaching he's running an after school homework club, and he is one of the tech liaisons of his school building.  In Fall 2020, he began a Masters in Education program at Neumann University.

"I am a social studies teacher for the Upper Darby School District. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and philosophy from West Chester University, a Master of Arts in history from West Chester University, a Master of Education from Cabrini College, and I am working on a Doctor of Education from Neumann University. I have over a decade in teaching experience, having taught American history, World Geography, General Science, and various elective classes. I am one of the board of directors for the Upper Darby Historical Society and published my first novel, On the Other Side of the Tracks this past summer. I am also a family man, married with a son and daughter."

"I'm currently teaching English at Xi Xiang Middle School in Shenzhen, China. I'll be coming back here next year, while working towards going to graduate school in either Hong Kong or Japan. I've been taking classes in Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean, and plan on taking the HSK [Chinese Proficiency Test] 5 sometime next year. So far I've traveled to Tokyo, Seoul, and various cities in China, including Zhuhai, Macau, and Hong Kong. I'm very anxious to see what the next few years have in store for me."

Morningstar taught English to middle school students for two year through the Center for Teaching and Learning in China program. Here he is at the library at Peking University.

"I graduated in December 2014 from West Chester University with a BA in History and Social Studies Teaching Certification for Grades 7 through 12. I was hired in June 2015 for a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher position at Heaton Middle School located in Pueblo, Colorado. It is part of Pueblo City Schools, the main district there. I live in southern Colorado Springs and I love it here. The Social Studies Teaching Certification Program has prepared me very well for this job and I could not be happier with the vigorous training I received at West Chester University. It aids me every time I step into the classroom here in beautiful Colorado."

"Volunteering at local museums, social welfare and arts organizations since my teen years has shaped my interest in working in the nonprofit sector. After earning a B.A. in History from WCU I enrolled in WCU's Master of Public Administration program with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration. I am also working as a graduate assistant at WCU, which offers me the opportunity to refine my research skills and make career connections. I enjoyed taking Fundraising, Grant Writing, and Program Evaluation courses to prepare for nonprofit fund development, my specific field of interest. Currently, I work for a local nonprofit senior center and am excited to earn my MPA in May of 2016."

"After finishing my Bachelor's in History, I embarked on an adventure that would take me into uncharted territory. I decided to teach English as a Second Language in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. The experiences that I had in my first yearliving in China have changed my life forever. The amount of cultural enrichment that I was exposed to on a daily basis left me in a constant state of curiosity; a curiosity fed only by the experiences and adventures of life abroad. During my tenure in Zhongshan, I met the woman of my dreams and moved to her hometown of Valencia, Spain. It was there where I tried to live, learn, and understand Spanish culture in the same way that I tried to understand Chinese culture. Four years after taking that first giant leap into the great unknown, I am now fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, I am a happily married man to another worldly traveler, and I now currently teach Secondary World History and Geography at the Weiming International School in Guangzhou."

West Chester University grads make up 80% of the String Theory of the Performing Arts Charter School of the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter Schools District. This crew shows the importance of building your network while studying history at WCU.

• Sal Scaramuzzino 7th/8th grades U.S. & World History - 3rd year
• Rich DiGiambattista 9th-11th grades U.S. History, World History, AP Government - 3rd year
• Stephanie Barbuto 9th-11th grades U.S. History, World History, Government - 3rd year Head of History Department (working on Principal certification)
• Giuliano Alexander 9th/11th grades World History, Honors Government, Government - 1st year
• Joe Tetreault 10th grade U.S. History - 1st year

Joshua DiSylvestro (Winter '17) recently stopped by the History Department to report that in December he graduated with honors from the Police Academy. He is now Officer DiSylvestro and working in nearby Chester. Josh remembers that as a student he was sometimes impatient when professors refused to accept less than his best, but now says those expectations laid the groundwork for his Dean's List achievements at the Academy. Josh mentioned that because he has a college degree all ranks are open to him. Furthermore, his history degree was a factor in his acceptance into the Academy: they liked that he knows "other stuff." Josh says one reason for that is that officers are often assigned to neighborhoods where they might serve as role models to young kids, providing examples of different life opportunities these youngsters might follow. Congratulations, Officer DiSylvestro, the History Department is proud of you! And we thank the Police Academy for recognizing the value of studying history.

Joseph Felice ('08) was recently featured in the August 2020 edition of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Magazine, which has a circulation of 1.3 million, Felice has researched Cpl. Wellington Sahler. Joe also recently published an article on the World War One Centennial website.