AP World History and AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher Stephen Schumacher has been teaching for 26 years in total and is heading into his 14th year at Sage Hill School. Beyond teaching, he serves as the faculty advisor for the Model United Nations chapter, guiding students through their conferences, with particular enjoyment in mentoring them during Berkeley MUN and South Orange County MUN.
After attending college at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and earning a B.A. and M.A. in History, Schumacher has led a colorful career teaching in multiple parts of the world, including East Los Angeles, Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Orange Coast College and Cal Poly Pomona. Notably, he also taught in Beijing, Leschan and Sichuan, which provided him with insight into Chinese culture and education.
Outside of the classroom, Schumacher enjoys watching soccer, running trails and strolling along the beach with his family. He also loves traveling to the Eastern Sierra Nevadas and abroad.
Schumacher describes his teaching style as “controlled chaos” sprinkled with the occasional dad joke. He believes that students thrive when held to high expectations with strong support. He is continually inspired by students and excited to see what the future holds for them.
“I think it is important for students to develop their analytical thinking skills so that they can go out into the world with the ability to think critically and ask questions. I also hope they are compassionate and empathetic global citizens,” he said.
Recognizing that a central continuity in world history is inequity, he hopes that his students will actively live Sage Hill’s mission by using the knowledge that they have learned in class creatively, compassionately and courageously throughout their lives. Naturally for a history teacher, Schumacher believes that learning from the past will help everyone make more informed choices.
“Teaching makes me hopeful that tomorrow’s world will be kinder and more just,” he said.
