After over twenty years of teaching history, Stephanie Manzella proudly calls Concord Academy her home. Throughout this time, she has contributed extensively to the school by fostering a passion for history and building strong connections within the community. Having grown up in various regions ranging from Shaker Heights, Ohio to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Manzella brings a multitude of perspectives to her teaching. Through her dedication, she has shared her love of history with countless students and cherished every moment of living and teaching at CA.
From the start, Manzella has always aspired to be a history teacher. As a freshman in high school, she recalled being particularly interested in historically niche topics, such as Ronald Reagan’s cabinet. Years later, Manzella attended Hamilton College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree. After college, Manzella realized that teaching history was meant for her. She stated, “I kind of just knew [...] I knew instantly I wanted to teach history.” When Manzella learned about CA’s tight-knit community and engaging curriculum, she knew it was the right place for her. Today, Manzella teaches several courses, ranging from US Presidents: Washington to Lincoln to European 19th Century Revolt and Revolution.
As a history teacher, it can be difficult to handle controversial or sensitive topics. When asked how she deals with these issues, Manzella explained that she is especially drawn to controversy. She said, “I try to prepare my students about whether this might hit them emotionally and I tell them to prepare their emotional core the way one would prepare their core for a gut punch.” She emphasized the importance of addressing contentious topics and arguments rather than avoiding the discussion of them. Manzella described the significance of being brave towards these controversies and also recognizing the different perspectives of the past. She explained, "I try to give voice to the vulnerable in history; we try to bear witness to these hard moments.” She hopes this is what her students will take away from her classes.
Manzella’s courage to face the dark side of history comes from her firm sense of self-identification. She stated, “I believe in gender equality and I’m not ashamed.” Her strength in supporting her belief and advocating for it is reflected in her dauntless teaching style. She expressed her reluctance in following the traditional history teaching guidelines. Instead, she prefers the freedom that CA offers; teachers here prepare the content of courses on the foundation of common trust. She trusts herself to educate students so they can form their own sense of self and see multiple angles of the world, not only the positive ones.
If Manzella could have dinner with any historical figure, she might choose Michelle Obama. She shared that Obama was someone she greatly admired and looked up to. In terms of historical figures, Manzella elaborated, “I would choose a trailblazer—someone’s story that I don’t know that I would want to know about.” Although she was unsure of what specific era she was most curious about, she emphasized the significance of knowing the life of the unknown in history.
While Manzella teaches history, she strives to push her impact in the CA community to connect with younger generations and learn about the progressively modern world. She said, “I’ve learned so much from [the students] and [their] chapels, and being in tune with what younger people are talking about—that’s a blessing.” In her history classes, Manzella hopes that students are interested in the complexities of the past and find joy in its rich stories and controversies.