Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Huesken is a life-long Lancaster County resident. A 2003 graduate of Conestoga Valley High School, Mr. Huesken attended Shippensburg University and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Education and a minor in Political Science. During his college years, Mr. Huesken was active in the affairs of the S.U. History Department as a member of the history honors society Phi Alpha Theta and as a founding member of the Shippensburg Student History Club, a student-run group that sponsors speakers, trips, and internship opportunities for undergraduate students interested in historical study. Mr. Huesken was also an active musician on campus as a member of the popular Shippensburg University "Red Raider" Marching Band, where he played trombone and baritone and served as one of the band's drum majors during his sophomore and junior years. He also served as an officer from the music service fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, taking on the role of the chapter's official historian during his senior year.
Besides his degree from Shippensburg University, Mr. Huesken also holds a Master's degree in History from Millersville University, which he obtained in 2012, and a Master's degree in Education from Wilkes University, which he completed in 2018. Mr H is also a certified K-12 online teacher, allowing him to create, administer, and teach online courses from elementary to secondary content areas, as well as a PBS media literacy educator. In 2023, Mr H became a part-time adjunct faculty member at Penn State University's Harrisburg campus, teaching in the Department of Behavioral Science & Teacher Education.
Mr H (left) as a drum major for the Shippensburg University "Red Raider" Marching Band
Before coming to Etown, Mr Huesken taught 9th Grade World Cultures and 11th-12th Grade Pennsylvania History & Government at Ephrata Area High School in the Ephrata Area School District. Mr Huesken also has prior teaching experience in the Central Dauphin School District, where he student-taught and ran a 20th Century American History classroom (1914-present) at Central Dauphin High School, and the Cedar Cliff School District, where he taught at Allen Middle School and ran a 7th Grade Ancient History & Civilizations classroom.
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Since joining the Etown High School faculty in 2008 as an 11th Grade World History instructor, teaching both on-level and remedial courses. During his time at Etown, Mr H has taught 9th Grade Early American History (1801-1914), 10th Grade Modern American History (1914-present), 10th Grade Honors Modern American History (1914-present), 11th Grade Modern World History (1500's-present), 11th Grade Honors Modern World History (1500's-present), and 12th Grade Government & Economics.
Outside of the classroom, Mr H has also been active as a class advisor, a club advisor - running the new National History Day club for High School and Middle School students, and as an assistant director/drill instructor for 15 years with the Elizabethtown Area High School Marching Band.
"World War II: 101" (Saturday Night Live - 1992)
Mr H working in a previous career at the Strasburg Railroad
Mr. Huesken also brings several unique occupational experiences outside of teaching into the classroom at E.A.H.S. that enrich both his lessons and relationships with students. While completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Huesken worked for several years for the Discover Lancaster County History Museum (formally part of Dutch Wonderland) as a tour guide and an educational programs designer for groups of all ages that focused on the rich history of Lancaster County. Programs that Mr. Huesken has worked on have ranged from educational workshops geared towards a particular period or event in Lancaster County history for elementary and middle school students to "haunted history" tours for older students and adults. Another job Mr. Huesken held while completing his undergraduate degree, was working for the Strasburg Railroad as a part-time laborer and living-history interpreter providing visitors with a more realistic picture of Pennsylvania's rich railroading heritage.
One of Mr H's Favorite Films: The Emperor's Club (2002)
Mr H & his wife, also a teacher!
In his spare time, Mr. H enjoys reading, spending time with his family and pets, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, checking out new films and documentaries (HUGE MOVIE BUFF!!!), and traveling to new and interesting places around the south-central Pennsylvania area.
Mr. H is also a published Pennsylvania and Lancaster County historian, having had articles and research appear in publications such as The Journal of Lancaster County History, Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Journal of History and Biography to name a few.
Mr. H currently lives in the Elizabethtown area with his wife (who is an elementary school teacher at East High Elementary), his daughter Olivia, his son Owen, and a large assortment of pets - a golden retriever (Boomer), a poodle mix (Dottie), two "champion" pug (Archie & Betty), and four cats (Maria, Annie, Penny, and Trixie).
Mr. H's children: Olivia, Owen, and one of our "champion" pugs, Archie.