social studies conneCTion
Social studies education inspires all students for lifelong inquiry and informed civic action. Join social studies leaders, Steve Armstrong and Tony Roy, as they connect with educators and advocates from across the state. Each episode will include entertaining dialogue, insights into best practices, and practical connections to social studies standards. Produced by the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 50 minutes
- Episodes
- 62
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
High School Students Committed to Civic Engagement with Guests Sreenidi Bala and Grace Ackerman
This episode, two students join our hosts to discuss student civic engagement.
Sreenidi Bala, a student of Farmington High School and one of two student members on the Connecticut State Board of Educ…
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas
Over the last three decades, Stephanie Thomas has dedicated her professional life to career advising and problem solving for nonprofit organizations, running her own business and serving as a state r…
Julia Miller, 2025 Connecticut Teacher of the Year
The 2005 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, Julia Miller is a proud New Haven Public Schools teacher, parent, and alumni. Julia is a social studies teacher committed to anti-racist education and projec…
Greg Frank and Brian Zawodniak and Teaching Through Living History
Greg Frank is a social studies teacher from South Windsor who has taught high school and middle school history for 30 years. Greg used to be a Civil War reenactor and is now Revolutionary War re-enac…
Rhonan Mokrisi and Embracing Authenticity as Historian
Rhonan Mokrisi is a native of Connecticut, who graduated from Boston College undergraduate and Southern Connecticut State University as a grad student. For 29 years, he has been teaching at his alma …
Matt Warshauer and Teaching the 9/11 Generation
Matt Warshauer returns to the podcast. He's been working as a history professor at Central Connecticut State University, as the host to the Connecticut History Day, and a member of the Connecticut C…
Melissa Zablonski and Communicating Complex History to Younger Audiences
Melissa Zablonski has taught social studies at Putnam High School for nine years, including U.S. History, AP U.S. History, Psychology, Anthropology, and the Black, African-American, Puerto Rican and…
Steve Thornton and The Shoe Leather History Project
Steve Thornton has spent his adult life as an activist and organizer, working with various groups for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice. He is the author of A Shoeleather History of…
Yasmeen Galal and Snigtha Mohanraj: Student Perspectives on the Intersections of Civics and Sciences
Snigtha Mohanraj is a rising senior and volunteers with local climate groups, conducts independent research regarding water contaminant removal and works on addressing educational disparities in New …
Wesley Hedgepeth and Sustaining Social Studies Education
Having taught many secondary social studies courses, Wesley Hedgepeth currently teaches AP U.S. Government, AP Comparative Politics and World History at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia. In 20…
Larissa Babij and The Story of an American Kind of Refugee
Returning to the podcast, Larissa Babij, was born in the United States to Ukrainia-American parents, and attended school in Manchester, CT where she was taught by co-host Steve Armstong. Living in Ky…
Daniel Martinez HoSang and Teaching Anti-Racism
Daniel Martinez HoSang is a professor of American studies at Yale and a member of the Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning Collective Steering Committee. Before graduate school, Dan worked as a communit…
Irene Parisi and The Rules for Educational Design and Delivery
Irene Parisi is the chief academic officer of the Connecticut State Department of Education. As a chief academic officer, Irene has been working with the team to co-create a renewed ecosystem of supp…
Brady Anderson and Sabrina Cassano and Declaring Freedom
From Fairfield Ward High School, juniors Brady Anderson and Sabrina Cassano discuss studying history at a time when world events are rapidly unfolding before them. A junior student athlete, when Brad…
Peter Moran and the Importance of Telling the True History
Peter Moran is the project director for Civics Education for Connecticut Students at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. He is an alum of the Public History Program at Central Connecticut…
Maryam Wardak and Educating Students to be Global Citizens
This episode, Maryam Wardak, the Social Studies Teaching and learning supervisor for magnet schools, discuss her passionate commitment to student learning and achievement through the use of research …
Lisa Olivere and the Passion for Education After Working in the Private Sector
Lisa Olivere started her professional career in the private sector working for Poland Spring Water, before dedicating herself to 30 years of experience in public education. Currently, she is the dire…
Lynn Mervosh and Understanding the Past Through Historic Sites.
Lynn Mervosh is the Site Administrator for the North Central Region for Connecticut Landmarks, which includes historic sites such as the Butler-McCook House & Garden and the Isham-Terry House, both i…
Jessica Blitzer and Developing Social Studies Learners
Having worked in public education for over 20 years, Jessica Blitzer currently serves as the secondary supervisor for history and Social Studies in West Hartford, Connecticut. She supports quality te…
Tony Roy and a Passion for Social Studies
Continuing our series to learn more about the hosts of CCSS CONNECTion, the focus turns to co-host and CCSS Board President, Anthony Roy. A passionate social studies educator, Tony discusses how his …