Leo is an experienced middle school history educator, having taught in independent schools in the Los Angeles, California area for more than 15 years. 

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His approach to teaching history is to challenge students to “think otherwise.” Instead of accepting dominant narratives, he pushes them to consider how different historical moments could have been changed by different, more humane and just decisions, and how each moment was experienced differently at the axes of race, indigeneity, gender, sexuality, disability, class, and national origin.

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He cultivates his own curriculum to ensure students learn history from myriad perspectives, with a focus on history by people who experience marginalization. He also challenges them to apply these reflections to their own lives; how the ways they choose to live, occupy space, and engage affects others differently depending on identity and experience. His classes use student inquiry and collaboration to create content and drive learning and instruction.

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Leo is a passionate advocate and supporter of students and faculty outside the classroom, serving on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees and facilitating BIPOC high school student and faculty affinity spaces.

 

He combines his history, instructional, and DEI experience to create anti-racist professional development and history curriculum for both public and independent schools, offering consultation, trainings, and presentations.

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Leo currently teaches middle school history at The Waverly School in Pasadena, CA. He has a B.A. in history from the Univer­sity of Cali­for­nia, Los Angeles, and a B.A. in polit­i­cal science and M.A. in history from Arizona State Univer­sity.