Social Science Department

At La Vista High school, the Social Science team consists of four grounded and pragmatic educators who focus on helping students earn credits, build stability, and understand the broader world in manageable steps.

What Makes This Department Work:

• Flexible Learning & Credit Recovery
  This department aligns with the continuation school’s tailored, pace-based approach—students may work on different assignments simultaneously and earn credits unit by unit, not based on semesters 

• Low Student–Teacher Ratios & Individual Support
  Small classes allow teachers to detect when a student is struggling and intervene quickly—via individualized learning plans or informal check-ins 

• Balance of Structure and Autonomy
  Teachers maintain clear boundaries: “be present and engaged,” but they understand resistance is common. They avoid over-inspiring rhetoric, instead offering a stable environment where students can work on core subjects with appropriate pacing

• Grounded Expectations
  The goal is concrete: regain academic momentum, accumulate credits, and keep school accessible. Success is measured in credit recovery and consistent attendance to help students grow and transform into young adults with an awakening of their ability to achieve success.

Why This Department Matters:

• Realistic Support: It meets students where they are—not pressuring them with unrealistic expectations, but giving them a chance to graduate.

• Stability amid Flux: In a setting where some students juggle work, family needs, or emotional challenges, this department offers consistency and clarity.

• Practical Outcomes: Students leave with recovered credits, a better grasp of how the world and systems function, and a sense that they can keep going—step by step, day by day.