McCallum added a new AP World History teacher to the staff this year, Tara Hedlund. Hedlund has been teaching history for the past 10 years and has taught a variety of subjects and levels. She teaches three different periods of AP World History and three periods of on-level U.S. History.

AP World History requires the students to learn from 1200 to the present. Covering such a vast amount of time in 10 months of school is a challenge. From empires rising and falling to revolutions, there are many topics to cover before the test. Sophomore AP World History student Lauren Brewer said that Hedlund has made learning such daunting lessons easier for her.

“The topics we have covered in this class have been challenging to comprehend since they are from so long ago,” Brewer said. “Mrs. Hedlund has helped me grasp what we are discussing in class, and I now have a better understanding of not only U.S. history but the whole world.”

For most students in the class, AP World History is the first AP class they have taken. This means they have to learn how to adapt to the timed sections and different parts of the test such as the DBQ, document-based question, and LEQ, long essay question.

“I am so glad that I got Mrs. Hedlund for my first AP class I have had to take,” Brewer said. “She has taught me how to approach the different kinds of questions on the test and answer them thoroughly. She has a strong understanding of the topics, which helps us learn better.”

Sophomore Maya Garwood is also in Hedlund’s AP World History class and says the class is a good way to start her day.

“She makes me excited to come to school,” Garwood said. “She’s a great teacher to have for my first-period class in the morning.”

To help the students stay engaged with the classwork, Hedlund comes up with alternate ways to learn.

“I like how we play interactive games to learn the material,” Garwood said. “She’s really nice, and she is super understanding. When you don’t understand something, she works really hard to explain it.”

From Hedlund, Garwood and her fellow students have learned how to take the AP test while also learning the content that will be on it.

“I’ve learned about the world and all of its history,” Garwood said. “I have also learned a lot of test-taking strategies that I did [not know] before.”

Hedlund was drawn to McCallum as soon as the job opened up for a history teacher because she had heard of the sense of community on the McCallum campus.

“I’ve heard about how connected and kind the students and staff are,” Hedlund said. “Actually, when I left after my interview I crossed my fingers because I was really hoping for the job.”

Since she has been at the school she has grown to love it and all of the people who are here.

“It has been wonderful because I love the students and community here,” Hedlund said. “I love the staff and I wish I could spend more time with them.” 

Since Hedlund has been teaching, she has taught many different subjects of history. From on-level to AP she has covered all different time periods and countries. 

“I’ve taught U.S. history, economics, government, AP Macroeconomics, AP Government and now AP World History,” Hedlund said. 

Since she was in school, Hedlund knew she wanted to teach history and help the students learn about all of the different parts of our world. 

 “I just really love the citizenship part of it, like opening up perspectives for students,” Hedlund said. “This is what’s happening in the world and either across the globe or within our own city, just the importance of history and how it’s connected to all the current events.”

Hedlund has enjoyed her time at McCallum and has loved getting to teach her students about our history.

“I love getting to know students and hopefully being a positive point in their day,” Hedlund said. “I feel like that’s why when I first thought about teaching. I was just remembering certain teachers that really were impactful for me, and I would like to be a bright spot for my students.”