Saturday Academies

Gilder Lehrman Saturday Academies provide free elective courses for high school and middle school students on Saturday mornings. A winner of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the nation’s highest honor for outstanding after-school and out-of-school programs, Saturday Academies have helped more than ten thousand students gain a deeper knowledge of the humanities through American history, literature, and arts classes.

In the 2012–2013 school year, students from hundreds of public, charter, and parochial schools attended Gilder Lehrman Saturday Academy programs. Students in Saturday Academies improve their basic literacy and critical reading skills through exposure to primary documents; engage difficult issues through class discussion, essay projects, and artistic expression; and strengthen their knowledge of the social sciences and humanities. The program prepares students for Advanced Placement and SAT exams and a lifetime of active learning and civic engagement. All Saturday Academies are open to enrollment from all members of the community. For more information, email academies@gilderlehrman.org.

List of Academies

Abraham Lincoln High School Saturday Academy
(Brooklyn, New York)

Ryan Fanning, Director. Founded 2005. Enrollment: 84 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

History of Brooklyn - Teachers: Mr. Ramos and Ryan Fanning 

Night at the Museum - Teachers: Mr. Terkel and Mr. Robinson 

Military History of the United States - Teachers: Mr. Cucuzza and Mr. Galati 

SAT Prep - Teachers: Ms. Dame and Mr. Saitram

Contact Number: 718-372-5474

Academy of American Studies Saturday Academy
(Queens, New York)

Nina Cohen & Mark Solkoff, Co-Directors. Founded 2004. Enrollment: 99 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

PSAT Prep - Teacher: James Randle

A Taste of New York - Teacher: Jason Vanderwalker 

Museum Studies - Teacher: Doug Condon 

Who Roared during the Roaring 20s? -Teacher: Dana Derchin 

A Different Voice: Literature Between the Wars - Teacher: Nina Kramer

Our Voices - Teacher: Tim Becker

Contact Number: 718-361-8786

All Hallows Saturday Academy
(Bronx, New York)

John Burke, Director. Founded 2002. Enrollment: 198 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

American Film in History - Teacher: Silvia Santo 

Comics in American Culture - Teacher: Silvio Mazzella 

United States & the Holocaust - Teacher: Mary Singer 

Lincoln and the Civil War - Teacher:  Jonathan Morales 

20th Century History through Music - Teacher: Patricia Greenan 

American Influence on Adolescent Literature - teacher: Yva Mazzella

American Revolution - Teacher: Matt Gaynord 

History of Professional Sports - Teacher: Matt Gaynord 

SAT Prep - Teacher: Holly Oddo

Contact Number: 718-293-4545

Andover High School Saturday Academy
(Andover, Kansas)

Joel Schaefer, Director. Founded 2011. Enrollment: 170 students.

Courses Offered (Fall 2012)

Entrepreneurs: The Source of American Prosperity - Teacher: Jon Bachura 

The Politics of Sports - Teacher: Nicole Kallenbach 

Acts of Valor - Teacher: Seth Anderson 

American Tragedies - Teacher: Shannon Woods

AP US History Reader - Teacher: Joel Schaefer

Contact Number: 316-266-8800

Bishop Kearney High School Saturday Academy
(Brooklyn, New York)

Sr. Rosemarie Baglivio, Director. Founded 2008. Enrollment: 80 students.

Courses Offered (Fall 2012)

American Theater - Teacher: Dr. Ann Mulligan, PhD

Celebrating American Life through Landscapes: Studio Art Course - Teacher: Elizabeth Conte 

Art in American History - Teacher: Dr. Ralph Protano, PhD

Catholic Social Justice in America - Teacher: Frank Russo 

His/Her Story in America - Teacher: Sr. Patricia Rutter, CSJ 

Decade of Change - Teacher: Janet Bodlovic 

The United States Constitution - Teacher: Maureen Griffin

Contact Number: 718-236-6363, x231

Frederick Douglass Academy Saturday Academy
(New York, New York)

Tamara Montano, Director. Founded 2006. Enrollment: 110 students

Courses Offered (Fall 2012)

PSAT Prep - Teacher: TBA

American History through Film - Teacher: Mr. Devery 

American/European Relations since 1914 - Teacher: Mr. Murphy 

AP US History Review - Teacher: Tamara Montano 

The Civil Rights Movement through Primary Sources - Teacher: Tamara Montano 

American Government and Politics - Teacher: Mr. Harris 

American Playwriting - Teacher: Ms. Crespo

Contact Number: 541-474-5710

Grants Pass High School Saturday Academy
(Grants Pass, Oregon)

Jeri Cowager, Director. Founded 2006. Enrollment: 110 students.

Courses Offered

SAT Prep

AP US History Review

A Brief History of United States Science

Steinbeck and Southwestern Oregon

Contact Number: 541-474-5710

Heights High School Saturday Academy
(Wichita, Kansas)

Christopher Kemp, Director. Founded 2006. Enrollment: 110 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

Entrepreneorology: How Entrepreneurs Created America - Teacher: Jon Bachura

The Armchair Candidate - Teacher: Shane Phillips

AP US History (Essay Emphasis) - Teacher: Ed Morales

AP US History Prep - Teacher: Chris Kemp

The Vietnam War and the Shadow It Casts - Teacher: Joel Schaefer

What If??? - Teacher: Steve Wentz

Contact Number: 316-973-1400

Monsignor Farrell High School Saturday Academy
(Staten Island, New York)

Edward Hynes, Director. Founded 2005. Enrollment: 200 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

AP US History Review - Teacher: Ed Manganel 

Controversies and Scandals in American Politics - Teacher: Lou Baldassano 

Engineering Feats in NYC - Teacher: Donald Semon 

First Amendment and Entertainment - Teacher: Rich Weir 

The History of American Football - Teacher: Rich Scafuri 

The History of Comic Books - Teacher: Chad Farley 

US History and Government Regents Review - Teacher: John Scognomiglio

Contact Number: 718-987-2900

Museum of the City of New York
(Manhattan, New York)

Joanna Steinberg, Director. Founded 2006. Enrollment: 56 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

Activist New York - Stephen Petrus

Public Art in East Harlem: Interpreting Latino-American History in the 20th Century - Kenny Rivero

Performing History: The Federal Theater Project and the Great Depression - Liz Parker

The Many Meanings of Feminism in the 20th Century - Kimberley Mackenzie

Freedom and Slavery in the Age of the American Revolution - Eric B. Herschthal

Bell Curves SAT Skills - Bell Curves Educators

Contact Number: 917-492-3401 or email saturday.academy@mcny.org

New Dorp High School Saturday Academy
(Staten Island, New York)

Dina Zoleo Episcopia, Director. Founded 2005. Enrollment: 225 students.

Courses Offered (Fall 2012): 

Alternative American History: “What If?” - Teacher: Michael Hubbs 

American History v. Hollywood - Teacher: Joseph Ginetto 

American Business Law - Teacher: Paul Presti 

Mock Presidential Election - Teacher: Anthony Antinoro 

American Culinary Arts - Teacher: Ralph LoPresti 

SAT English Prep - Teacher: Kate O’Connor 

SAT Math Prep - Teacher: Jesse Lambert

Contact Number: 718-667-8686

New-York Historical Society Saturday Academy
(Manhattan, New York)

Chelsea Forsini, Director. Founded 2005. Enrollment: 170 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

The United Sates in WWII: Before, During, and After - Teacher: Dr. Richard Gordon 

Dirty Jobs: The History of Dirty, Disgusting, and Dangerous Jobs in New York - Teacher: Emma Nordin 

Funny Papers, Serious Subjects: A Comic Book History - Teacher: Paul Swartz

Witch Hunts: An American Tradition - Teacher: Katie Courtien 

Advertising in America - Teacher: Jennifer Lagasse 

SAT Preparation - Teacher: Andrew Parrish

Contact Number: 212-485-9281

Notre Dame Saturday Academy
(Manhattan, New York)

Maryanne Mulvihill, Director. Founded 1997. Enrollment: 285 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

Conquer the SAT! - Teachers: Glen Stordeur and Marko Gazic 

SAT II and AP US History Review - Teacher: Mary Kate Blaine 

New York City History - Teacher: Chris Doyle 

The American Songbook - Teacher: Lydie Kane 

Schools and Segregation - Teacher: Steven Droske 

The United States and World Policeman - Teacher: Dan Nolan 

World War II - Teacher: Mary Ann McElroy

Contact Number: 212-620-5575

Salesian High School Saturday Academy
(New Rochelle, New York)

John Flaherty and Paul Zaccagnino, Co-Directors. Founded 2005. Enrollment: 351 students.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

1864–1865: The Last Year of the Civil War - Teacher: Alexander Papace  

American History through Cinema - Teacher:  Christine Babcock 

Carrier War: World War II in the Pacific - Teacher: John Mignuolo

Create a Revolutionary War Web Page - Teacher: Paul Zaccagnino 

Historic Crimes in American History - Teacher: Edmund Donovan 

My American Hero Web Page - Teacher: Jessica DiBuono 

Visual Arts in American History - Teacher: Clark Ruggeri 

Wartime America - Teacher: Michelle McCarthy 

American Scientists - Teacher: Alexandra Romero 

Book ’Em . . . The History of Law Enforcement - Teacher: Richard Raggo 

Great American  Speeches - Teacher: Jessica DiBuono 

One Nation under God - Teacher: Salesians of St. John Bosco 

Painting in Red, White and Blue - Teacher: Clark Ruggieri 

The Gettysburg Campaign in the Civil War - Teacher: Alexander Papace 

SAT Preparation - Teachers: Arthur Schoenherr and Thomas Cannella 

The “Short Story” of America - Teacher: Christine Babcock 

The Forgotten War: Korea, 1950–53 - Teacher: John Mignuolo 

TOP GUN: The History of American Fighting Aircraft - Teacher: Daniel Romero

Contact Number: 914-632-0248

School Without Walls Saturday Academy
(Washington, DC)

Sylvia Isaac and Jenine Pokorak, Co-Directors. Founded 2008.

Courses Offered (Spring 2013)

The Culture of New Orleans - Teacher: Kristin Kelly 

The History of American Poetry - Teacher: Wanda Jones-Hinnant 

The Impact of Comic Books - Teacher: William Jones 

“. . . And they also did math” - Teacher: Deena Willerth 

A Brief History of Women in American Film - Teacher: Ginea Briggs 

Latin Culture in the United States - Teacher: Everett Catlin 

AP US History Review - Teacher: TBA

Contact Number: 202-724-4889

St. Francis Prep Saturday Academy
(Fresh Meadows, NY)

Patrick McLaughlin, Director. Established in 2012.

Courses Offered

American Comic Book: A Reflection and Analysis of History and Culture - Teacher: Abelardo Leston

American History through Literature - Teacher: Joseph Castellano 

A Survey of the Women of American History - Teacher: Caitlin Donovan 

Building a New Nation: The Creation of the United States of America - Teacher: Suzanne Camus

Was the American Revolution Justified? - Teacher: Charles Jardines