Teachers
John Amirault (he/him) Teacher, & Instructional Leadership Team Member, SEGA Club Advisor
Courses Taught: AP European History, Modern World History
Teaching at AHS since 2014
Education: B.A. in Political Science from Boston College; MAT in Secondary Social Studies Education from Boston University; CAGS in Educational Leadership from Fitchburg State
Hometown: Stoneham, MA
Interests: Running, reading, trivia, watching and rooting for the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins
Favorite topic to teach: The Reformation and the modern Middle East
Best part of teaching at AHS: Working with the engaged and curious students and seeing my amazing colleagues everyday.
Kristin Arabasz (she/her) Teacher
Courses Taught: Modern World History, AP Psychology
Started at AHS in 2005
Education: B.A. from Boston College in History and English; M.Ed. from UMass Lowell
Hometown: Bedford, MA
Interests: reading, cooking and baking, kayaking and other outdoors activities, English Springer Spaniels and dogs in general, USA and HBO original series.
Favorite topic to teach: The revolutions: French, Russian and industrial. The last one especially lends itself to meaningful modern-day connections.
Best part of teaching at AHS: The staff, students and parents are all dedicated to roles they play in the educational process and are wonderful to work with.
Jay Barry (he/him)
Teacher
Courses Taught: AP US History, US History 2, and Current Issues: America & the World
Started at AHS in 2002
Education: B.A. from Middlebury College in Political Science, M.Ed. from Framingham State
Hometown: Lawrence, MA
Interests: Spending time with my three children, fishing, reading, sports
Favorite time topic to teach: 20th Century United States
Best part of teaching at AHS: I really enjoy getting to know the many interesting students in my classes.
Lisa Clark (she/her)
Teacher
Courses Taught: AP US History, US 1, American Pop Culture
Started at AHS in 2012
Education: B.A. in Sociology & Applied Social Relations from Eastern Connecticut State University; M.Ed. in Secondary History Education from Boston College
Hometown: Newton, MA
Interests: Spending time with my husband and our two sons, going to concerts, trivia, reading, and baking.
Favorite topic to teach: 20th-century history.
Best part of teaching at AHS: The diversity of the students which makes each class unique and exciting.
Alexis Daggett (she/her) Teacher & Model Congress C0-Advisor, Student Council Advisor
Courses Taught: Modern World History
Started at AHS in 2022
Education: B.A. from Central Washington University in History and Law & Justice, M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Interests: Traveling, reading, trivia, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite topic to teach: World War I and revolutions
Best part of teaching in AHS: The amazing students and dedicated teachers!
Melanie Konstandakis (she/her)
Teacher & Animal Advocacy Club Advisor
mkonstandakis@arlington.k12.ma.us
Courses Taught: Modern World History, AP US History
APUSH Expectations | Course Expectations
Started at AHS in 2005
Education: B.A. in American Literature from Clark University; M.A. in American History from Boston College; Administrator's license from EDCO
Hometown: Arlington, MA
Interests: kayaking, snow shoeing, travel, tennis and learning golf.
Favorite topic to teach: The turbulent 60s.
Best part of teaching at AHS: The students here like to learn and analyze history and the parents are supportive of students as learners.
Ian MacKay (he/him)
Teacher & Business Club Advisor
Courses Taught: US 1, Intro to Personal Finance, Intro to Economics, Economic Ideas and Policy, Economics of Personal Finance
Personal Finance Expectations | Economic Ideas Expectations
Started at AHS in 2006
Education: B.A. in Politics from Saint Anselm College; Bridgewater State College Post-Baccalaureate certificate; M.A. in Teaching History from UMass Boston
Hometown: Mansfield, MA
Interests: I enjoy reading and cooking. In addition, I play several sports and am a fan of watching the Boston sports teams.
Favorite topic to teach: The 20th Century.
Best part of teaching at AHS: Every day is different and presents new challenges.
Nick Martinelli (he/him) Teacher & Varsity Women's Basketball Coach
nmartinelli@arlington.k12.ma.us
Courses Taught: US 1, Social History Through Sports
Started at AHS in 2018
Education: B.A. Secondary Education/History from Worcester State University; anticipated MA in American Studies from UMass-Boston
Hometown: Adams, MA
Interests: Coaching basketball, watching movies, cooking, being with friends and family.
Favorite topic to teach: US 1 History and Social History through sports
Best part of teaching at AHS: My coworkers and the students
Scott Matson (he/him) Teacher
Courses Taught: US 1, AP US History
Started at AHS in 2004
Education: B.A. from Worcester State College; M.A. from University of Massachusetts- Boston, Ph.D. candidate at University of New Hampshire
Hometown: Fitchburg, MA
Interests: Avid golfer, Spending time with my two sons
Favorite topic to teach: Constitution & American Government, U.S. Civil War
Best part of teaching at AHS: Students are highly motivated and want to succeed.
Meredith Moseley (she/her) Teacher
Courses Taught: Modern World History, US 1
Started at AHS in 2021
Education: B.A. in History & English from UMass Amherst, M.Ed from Emmanuel College
Hometown: Waltham, MA
Interests: Reading, learning, going to the beach, listening to podcasts, boating, traveling, spending time with my family
Favorite topic to teach: Historiography and the Reconstruction Era; the relationship between race, citizenship and immigration throughout history
Best part of teaching at AHS: I love to watch students make meaningful connections between topics in class and the present and I love that teaching means I get to continue learning too!
Joe Sancinito (he/him) Teacher & Mock Trial Team Advisor, Varsity Baseball Coach
jsancinito@arlington.k12.ma.us
Courses Taught: US History 2, Intro to American Law
Started at AHS in 2003
Education: B.A. in History from UMASS Lowell; M.Ed. from Salem State College
Hometown: I currently live in Burlington, MA
Interests: Coaching/watching my kids' sports, skiing, attempting to grow vegetables in my garden.
Favorite topic to teach: My favorite unit to teach in USII is the Great Depression/ New Deal and I enjoy teaching the Civil and Criminal Law units in American Law
Best part of teaching at AHS: I really like working with the students every day, they are so engaging and creative. My colleagues in the History Dept. aren't so bad either.
Michael Sandler (he/him) Teacher & Do Something Club Advisor
Courses Taught: AP Psychology, Psychology and Human Behavior
Started at AHS in 2008
Education: B.A. and M.A.T. from Tufts University
Hometown: Lunenburg, MA
Interests: Spending time with my family, playing word games
Favorite topic to teach: anything psychological
Best part of teaching at AHS: Helping students to make connections with the world.
Sarah Stoe (she/her)
Teacher & Speech and Debate Club Advisor
Courses Taught: AP Human Geography, US 2
Started at AHS in 2013
Education: B.A. in History & Secondary Education from Framingham State University
Hometown: St. Louis, MO---Go Cardinals!
Interests: I love hiking, camping, playing cards and keeping up to date with my favorite historians.
Favorite topic to teach: The French Revolution and the culture of the U.S. in the 50s and 60s
Best part of teaching at AHS: The students! You all rock!
Emily Tessier (she/her) Teacher & National History Day Advisor
Courses Taught: US 1, Modern World History
Started at AHS in 2022
Education: B.A. in Secondary Education & History from Emmanuel College, M.A. in American History from Gettysburg College
Hometown: Tyngsboro, MA
Interests: Musical Theatre, beach days, spending time with friends and family, and Netflix marathons
Favorite topic to teach: US History!
Best part of working in Arlington: the diverse and welcoming community!
Erika Tonachel (she/her) Teacher & Model Congress C0-Advisor
Courses Taught: AP US Government and Politics, US 2
Started at AHS in 2020
Education: B.A. in History and Italian from Ohio State University, M.A. in Italian Studies from Middlebury College
Hometown: Denver, NC
Interests: Cooking, baking, hosting dinner parties! I also enjoy learning about Italian language and culture--I am not Italian but I speak Italian fluently! Because of my experiences studying abroad, I am passionate about helping young people figure out ways to travel and study abroad.
Favorite topic to teach: U.S. history, fifties and sixties, immigration in Italy from 1990-present
Best part of teaching at AHS: Seeing the light bulb go on for all students when they finally grasp something that had been challenging for them.
Kevin Toro (he/him)
Teacher
Courses Taught: AP African-American Studies, Modern World History
Started at AHS in 2016
Education: B.A. in Secondary Education & History from Boston College, M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction from Boston College
Hometown: Revere, MA
Interests: Basketball, Soccer, Reading, Anime/Manga, and Video/Tabletop Games
Favorite topic to teach: Ancient Rome
Best part of teaching at AHS: Learning from the students