Mr. Smith's Social Studies Classes

About Your Teacher

Hi everyone,

My name is Mr. Smith and I'm excited to be teaching social studies classes here at Hyde Park Academy. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and have lived in the city now for more than a decade. I graduated from Elmhurst University with degrees in History and American Studies, with an additional focus in Political Science. I also received a Master's Degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

I have been teaching in the classroom for for 10 years and this will be my 5th year at HPA. I love helping students find their voice on an issue, creating a curriclum focused on real-world issues and themes, and developing strong democratic values in our students and school culture. Students shouldn't just learn about democracy, they should practice doing democracy.

Outside of school, I enjoy cooking and eating a wide variety of foods, listening to new music or podcasts, running several days a week, exploring Chicago, experiencing nature, and just hanging out with my wife, who is also an educator. For the last 7 years, we have made our home in the historic Kenwood neighborhood on the Southside.