The Nipmuc Regional High School social studies department, from left, Darcy Daniels, Brian Moloney, Daniel MacIsaac and Matt Merten, holding a photo of Christine Manzella, who wasn’t able to attend, was recognized at an award ceremony held at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham on April 29. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
MENDON — Superintendent Dr. Maureen Cohen and Nipmuc Regional High School Co-Principals John Clements and Mary Anne Moran are pleased to share that the Nipmuc Regional High School social studies department has received the “Recognition of Department Excellence in Teaching Social Studies Award” from the Massachusetts Council for Social Studies.
The department, comprised of Department Chairperson Matthew Merten and teachers Darcy Daniels (who won 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History), Daniel MacIsaac, Christine Manzella and Brian Moloney, was nominated by Co-Principals Clements and Moran.
The “Recognition of Department Excellence in Teaching Social Studies Award” recognizes outstanding social studies departments that exemplify collaborative, innovative and effective instructional practices in their classrooms. Honored departments promote the development of skills and curiosity that demonstrate democratic beliefs, values, and tools needed for students to become active and engaged in civic life.
Co-Principals Clements and Moran nominated the group of teachers based on their excellence in collaboration, the impact of their professional work on students’ development of civic skills, their leadership in connecting the curriculum to the world beyond the classroom, and their leadership within and beyond the school.
The department has excelled in a variety of ways. The annual civics project that teachers organize stands as a powerful example of experiential learning, empowering students to develop crucial research skills and make a tangible difference in their community. The project provides students with the opportunity to pursue their interests through a project in which they apply their learning to real-world issues. The experience culminates in the annual Civics Symposium, an event that welcomes families, community members, professionals, and leaders to hear directly from students about their learning journeys and project outcomes. This immersive program fosters a strong sense of empowerment among students and cultivates essential “durable skills” aligned with the school’s Portrait of a Learner, enabling them to connect their learning with their strengths, interests, and potential for real-world impact.
The department has offered leadership in the development of the “Authentic Learning Leveling Up Protocol,” a strengths-based, collaborative protocol, of which Department Chair Merten served as a leader. As part of the protocol, students and teachers work together to take high-confidence learning experiences and connect them to the world beyond the classroom. Since the schoolwide roll-out of the protocol, department members have become leaders of this work, designing a wide array of experiences that demonstrate authenticity.
In addition, the department has sought opportunities to share its work with others to extend its impact beyond Nipmuc. They collaboratively wrote an article that will be published in the New England Journal of History focused on legacy projects. They have also shared their work at the 2024 Climate Change Challenge and will present at the 2025 Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ Summer Conference.
“We are a tight-knit team of educators with a wide range of complementary skills that have built a culture of trust, creativity and shared purpose,” said Department Chairperson Merten. “We leverage each team member’s unique strengths and strive to design engaging, real-world learning opportunities that encourage students to think critically, connect with history and understand their role in society. We would like to thank John Clements and Mary Anne Moran, our administrative team, for providing essential guidance and support, as well as our students and many other members of the Nipmuc High School community. We are truly honored to receive this recognition.”
Department members were recognized at an award ceremony held at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham on April 29.
“I am incredibly proud of our Nipmuc Social Studies Department for receiving this award,” Superintendent Dr. Cohen said. “This team pours their heart into making history come alive, encouraging critical thinking, and helping our students see their role in the world. They are making a difference in the lives of the students they teach.”
In addition to the social studies department and Daniels being recognized for their contributions to the school, Nipmuc’s James Gorman was also recently named 2024 Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year.
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