StM News

Two St. Martin’s administrators recently joined fellow educators in Washington, D.C., to lead a session at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) annual conference. Denise Altobello, Director of Curriculum, Innovation + Design, and Jenny Velasquez, Head of Middle School, presented their work at the country’s largest gathering of social studies professionals. 

Selected for their innovative approach to "place-based, interdisciplinary learning," Altobello and Velasquez demonstrated how St. Martin’s uses New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a living classroom. For our families, this national recognition is a powerful validation of the rigorous, inquiry-driven environment we cultivate on campus every day.

Designing a Cohesive Path for Our Students

What truly sets the St. Martin’s experience apart is the intentionality behind our approach to curriculum. While teachers guide learning in their classrooms each day, our Director of Curriculum collaborates with faculty and department chairs to ensure that skills and knowledge are thoughtfully sequenced and reinforced throughout the curriculum. For families, this translates to a curriculum where every project and every lesson advances St. Martin’s mission to prepare our students for college and life.

A Legacy of Expertise and Innovation

This invitation to the NCSS stage is part of a long-standing tradition of leadership at our school. Between them, Altobello and Velasquez have presented at regional, national, and international conferences more than 20 times over the last 20 years.

Their presentation, "Anchored in Place," explored how cities can serve as classrooms and how interdisciplinary, place-based learning encourages students to connect their local communities with broader global questions.

Bringing the Best Ideas Home

While our administrators were in D.C. to share St. Martin’s successes, they were also there as learners. The annual conference brings together social studies educators, historians, scholars, and civic leaders from around the country to discuss new research and approaches to teaching history and civics. By attending sessions led by global educational pioneers and engaging with the latest research in history, geography, and civic engagement, they returned with fresh curriculum ideas and innovative teaching strategies to share with their colleagues.

By sharing our own methods on a national stage and bringing the world’s best practices back to our classrooms, St. Martin’s faculty ensures our students are learning from mentors who are as curious and engaged as they are. The result is an approach to education that respects the lessons of the past while preparing students for the challenges ahead.