Social Studies Department The John Carroll School Social Studies Department seeks to develop innovative thinkers, problem solvers, and world changers! Each teacher is tasked with the mission of cultivating the love of learning in every student and challenging students to develop critical 21st century skills.
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Course Descriptions Advanced Placement Courses:
Ninth Grade Courses:
A.P. Human Geography: Year-long college level Human Geography course where students can earn academic credit for college. Course is offered freshman year to Carroll Scholars. Focuses on systemic studies of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface.
Human Geography and Honors Human Geography (one semester): Intended to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface.
A.P. Seminar: Year-long course that is a major part of the A.P. Capstone program. Taken during sophomore year. In this class, students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, gathering and analyzing information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments A.P. U.S. Government and Politics: Year-long college level course where students can earn academic credit for college. Offered as an elective senior year. A.P. U.S. History: Year-long college level U.S. History course where students can earn academic credit for college. Covers the time period from the 16th century to the turn of the 21st century. Offered during junior year in lieu of U.S. History. A.P. Psychology: Year-long college level course where students can earn academic credit for college. Course is a detailed review of the basic tenets in the field of psychology. It is the equivalent of an Introductory Psychology class that is offered at any college or university.
Western Civilization and Honors Western Civilization (one semester): This course surveys the development of western civilization beginning with the classical societies of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, then journeying through the formation of the western world throughout the ages, and finally concluding with the national revolutions that standardized the nation states of the early 1900s in the western world.
Tenth Grade Courses: Economics and Honors Economics (one semester): This course is a basic introduction to the study of economics, and focuses on such topics as Supply and Demand, Monetary Policy, and Fiscal Policy. U.S. Government and Honors U.S. Government (one semester): A political science course designed to help students develop an understanding of the major concepts of our form of government, an interest in learning more about politics, and a basic ability to analyze political issues and evaluate the news.
Eleventh Grade Courses: Honors U.S. History: Accelerated U.S. History course that covers roughly the same time period as the A.P. U.S. History course, from the 16th century to the turn of the 21st century. Offered during junior year in lieu of U.S. History.
opportunity to dual enroll with either Harford Community College or University of Delaware. Particular to the development of the course is the understanding of how managers are the conduits between people and business functions.
U.S. History: Standard level course for most juniors. Covers the time period between the American Revolution and end of World War II. Offered during junior year.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship (one year): This course offers the student the opportunity to dual enroll with Harford Community College. Particular to the development of the course is the understanding of how entrepreneurship is a connector between people and cultures.
Twelfth Grade Courses (electives): Psychology (one semester): This course introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, with an emphasis on major psychological principles and practical applications. Anthropology (one semester): A general study of human beings, with a focus on the characteristics and evolution of human learned behaviors. An ethnographic survey of the Cheyenne Indians provides the opportunity to apply learned skills and concepts. Post-1945 U.S. History (one semester): This U.S. History course focuses on the time period between World War II and the turn of the 21st century, covering such thematic events as the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the fall of Communism.
FLEX Program Courses Introduction to Business Management (one year): Part of the FLEX Program, this course offers the student the
Introduction to Business Law (one semester): The student has the opportunity with this course to dual enroll with Harford Community College. This course provides students with a working knowledge of the legal aspects of forming, operating, and dissolving business entities through case studies and discussion of legal issues in the commercial setting. Marketing Principles (one semester): This course offers the student the opportunity to dual enroll with Harford Community College. This course introduces students to fundamental marketing concepts and techniques related to product, pricing, distribution and promotional strategy. Accounting I (one semester): Students have the opportunity to dual enroll with Harford Community College. This course introduces the student to accounting theory and practice with an emphasis on accounting for assets.
Department Members GRETTA DeMENNATO: Gretta is a graduate of Notre Dame of MD University and has been a teacher for 17 years. This is her first year at John Carroll. She has a B.A. in Political Science, MAT in Secondary Social Studies and a Legal Assistant Certificate from Georgetown University. She teaches AP U.S. History, U.S. History, and US History Post 1945 to the Present. LARRY DUKES: Larry has been at John Carroll for 18 years. Larry runs our FLEX Program (Intro to Business, Marketing Principles, Entrepreneurial Studies, Accounting, and Business Law) and currently teaches four of the six courses in that program. For 13 years, he also coached Varsity Girls and Boys Swimming. JIM FENDRYK: Jim has been at John Carroll for 15 years. He has a B.A. in History and is working on a Master’s of Education in Instructional Technology from the University of MD. Jim teaches AP Human Geography and AP Seminar, and he also teaches Western Civilization and Human Geography. He has head coached Varsity Boys soccer for 11 years and Girls Badminton for 5 years. RODNEY JOHNSON: Rodney has been teaching at John Carroll for 26 years, obtaining a Master’s of Modern Studies in 2002. Currently, Rodney teaches Economics, U.S. Government, and Business Law (part of the FLEX program). He has been a Boys Soccer coach since 1996 and a Boys Tennis coach since 2009. He also moderated the Student Government Association from 2000 to 2019 and sits on the school’s Diversity Committee. PAUL LAZOR: Paul has been at John Carroll for 15 years. Teaching is a second career for him, having worked as a clinical psychologist in a number of settings for 25 years prior to the change. He currently teaches a one-semester Psychology class and a one-year AP Psychology class, as well as U.S. History. LINDSEY McCUMBER: Lindsey joined the department this year after graduating from JC in 2014. She has a B.A. in Secondary Education and
English Language and Literature with a minor in American History from the University of MD. She currently pursues her Master’s of Education in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Virginia. Lindsey teaches US History and English 1 and hopes to help with the Theater Department here at JC when musicals resume. JOE SCHEIDE: Joe is in his third year of teaching at John Carroll, after previously teaching at Loyola. Joe has a B.A. in History, with a minor in Theology. He teaches Human Geography, Western Civ, U.S. Government, including the AP level, as well as U.S. History and Economics. Additionally, Joe coaches the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team and moderates the Speech and Debate Team. BOB SCHICK: Bob has been teaching at John Carroll for 20 years. He has an M.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in English from Notre Dame of MD University. He teaches freshmanlevel courses of Human Geography and Western Civilization, at both the regular and honors levels. He has been involved with several school clubs in the past, such as the Academic Team and the Speech and Debate Team. GARY SCHOLL: Gary has been a teacher and administrator at John Carroll for 47 years, with a Master’s in Education. After retiring as Vice Principal in 2018, he continues to teach Anthropology. During his years at the school, Gary has coached Wrestling (16 years), Field Hockey (10 years), and Basketball (2 years). He runs an annual Pow-Wow in January supporting St. Labre Indian School, and sponsors student service trips to Northern and Southern Cheyenne Reservations. DARRION SILER: Darrion graduated from John Carroll in 2001 and has been a teacher at the school for 6 years. He has a B.A. in Philosophy, with a minor in Asian Studies. He teaches Honors U.S. History, U.S. History, and Culture and Communication for International Students. He has head-coached the Varsity Baseball team for 5 years and moderates numerous clubs at the school.
Director of Admissions: Edward Maynard ’93 | 410.838.8333 x2062 | emaynard@johncarroll.org Social Studies Department Chair: Rodney Johnson | rjohnson@johncarroll.org