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“The Social Studies department before moving back to St. Louis. because it was relevant to their
at Cor Jesu ignited a curiosity “I moved home in 2016 and lives and allowed them a space for
in me that I haven’t ever been was subbing while on my job conversations previous educational
able to put out,” she said. hunt,” Bridget said. “One day, my institutions did not provide.”
Bridget graduated from Cor Jesu in mom saw an ad for a teaching Bridget’s deep understanding
2008 and went on to the University position at Marian Middle School of history allowed her to create
of Missouri-Columbia to become a in the St. Louis Review.” lessons for these courses that
history The place where Bridget had were middle school-friendly,
teacher. volunteered in high school would but also critically engaging. For
After be the next stop on her path. She example, she facilitated Socratic
graduating began teaching at Marian in the seminars and mock trials, in
from fall of 2017 and found a great addition to having her students
Mizzou purpose in her passion for history. engage in advanced research.
with a The mission of Marian Middle “I brought my experience as a
bachelor’s School resonated with Bridget. Cor Jesu student into my teaching
degree in history, she moved to “It was a great fit because I am a at Marian,” Bridget said. “I knew
Austin, Texas, where she taught for product of Catholic schools, and I what a school like Cor Jesu would
one year at Pflugerville High in a feel that a lot of the opportunities want from a student, so I tried
Life Skills classroom – a classroom I’ve been blessed with are because to give my students experiences
designed for students with special of my Catholic education,” Bridget that would help them thrive in
needs to help them develop said. “I believe that everyone their high school classrooms.”
cognitive, emotional and social skills. should have access to these same Her curriculum at Marian focused
She then continued her education opportunities, and Marian is on using primary documents, FEATURE
at the University of Texas at Austin, providing that access for its students similar to how the Cor Jesu Social
earning a Master of Arts in Secondary in an all-girls environment that is Studies department teaches. Using
Social Studies Education, focused comfortable, much like Cor Jesu.” primary documents in middle school
on teaching in linguistically and As soon as she walked in the door, prepared her students for Document
culturally diverse urban settings. Her Bridget’s unique gifts began to shine. Based Questions (DBQ’s), which are
last job in Texas was teaching World Marian is a STEM-oriented school, often found on AP History exams.
Geography at William B. Travis High so Bridget took the opportunity to DBQ’s ask students to analyze a
School and coaching the varsity develop more humanities-focused historical issue or trend with the
girls’ soccer team for two years, courses for students who were, like aid of the provided sources – or
her, interested in history and social documents – as evidence.
studies. She developed three courses: While at Marian, Bridget was
Race in America, Women in History asked to conduct field work, so
MARIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL and American Protest Literature. she contacted Cor Jesu’s Social
MISSION STATEMENT: “Bridget brought a passion for Studies Department Chair and
Marian Middle School, a
Catholic school welcoming social studies and a commitment one of her favorite teachers from
adolescent girls of all to equitable education from high school, Dr. Brian Hohlt. She
backgrounds, is committed which our students, faculty and observed one of his lessons on Civil
to breaking the cycle entire community benefited,” Rights and the influence of W. E. B.
of poverty through Sarah Walker, principal of Marian Du Bois and Booker T. Washington.
education. Marian fosters
each student’s spiritual, Middle, said. “She was never shy Dr. Hohlt had the students analyzing
academic, social, moral, about bringing ideas to share and primary documents.
emotional, and physical possible new areas of study to “I remember being there and feeling
development from idle Marian. Students loved the content at home again,” Bridget said. “I was
school through post-
secondary education
as a foundation for
career success.

SUMMER 2021 Spirit Magazine 19