Mr. Medina, a former history teacher, has transitioned to teaching politics this school year, earning widespread praise from students for his innovative teaching methods.

After 11 years of teaching history, Medina decided to step into the politics classroom following the departure of the previous teacher, Mr. Sante. The similarities between the two subjects motivated his decision, and his passion for teaching remains evident.

“Mr. Medina seems as if he truly enjoys teaching politics and has a lot of energy when talking to the class. He makes sure that we are all energetic and ready to go, which I feel displays his passion for this class,” junior Miguel De Mise said.

The overlap between history and politics has made the transition seamless for Medina. Both subjects focus on analyzing events, encouraging students to debate and think critically about current and past issues.

“History is an important topic, but being able to teach kids the background of politics is also important. I want my students to be active participants in their communities,” Medina said.

Students have embraced Medina’s teaching style and enthusiasm for the subject. His hands-on projects, including a US-Japan Treaty simulation with visiting exchange students, challenge students to think creatively and excel.

“I enjoyed politics last year, but I feel this year’s class has been more exciting because we have a new teacher who knows a lot about historical events. Mr. Medina makes the class more enjoyable and ensures nobody falls behind,” sophomore Joaquin Dusek said.

Despite his new focus, Medina still reflects fondly on his history-teaching roots.

“I love both subjects, but I’ve enjoyed approaching social studies from a political angle rather than a historical one. History is my first and oldest love,” Medina said.