Academic Background

• B.A., History, University of Florida, 1992
• M.Ed., Social Studies Education, University of Florida, 1993
• Ph.D., Social Science Education, University of South Florida, 2011

Courses Taught

• SED 370-Teaching in the High School
• SED 405-Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools

Employment Background

• Rider University: 2012-present
• Braden River High School: 2007-2012
• Venice High School, Venice, Florida: 2004-2007
• Lemon Bay High School, Englewood, Florida: 1993-2004

Research Interests
American History, “historical thinking,” “Just War” theory, moral education, the teaching of war

Selected Publications

• Pearcy, M. (2013). “We have never known what death was before”: U.S. history textbooks and the Civil War. Journal of Social Studies Research (date pending).
• Pearcy, M. (2013). “Five little arguments”—Teaching progressive issues using the Common Core Standards. Social Science Docket, Summer/Fall 2013.
• Pearcy, M., & Dotson, M. (2011). “If we were truly brave”—“Affairs of honor” and the art of dueling in digital spaces, Social Studies Research and Practice, 7, 2, 113-121.
• Pearcy, M. (2012). America’s army: “Playful hatred” in the social studies classroom, International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 4, 2, 19-36.
• Pearcy, M., and Duplass, J.D. (2010). Teaching history—Strategies for dealing with breadth and depth in the standards and accountability age, The Social Studies, 102. 3, p. 110-116.

Selected Presentations

• “He is My Country—Teaching War from a Moral Perspective,” International Society for the Social Studies, February 2013
• “Playing the President—Politics v. Policy in U.S. Government,” International Society for the Social Studies, February 2013
• “Golden Tickets and Happy Fun Ball—Strategies for Dynamic Lectures,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2012
• “Florida Transformative Education,” Florida Council for the Social Studies, October 2012
• “’We Have Never Known What Death Was Before’”—the Conceptualizations of War in US History Classrooms,” New Jersey Council for the Social Studies, October 2012
• “The ‘Just War’ Doctrine: A Moral Method for Teaching War,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2011
• “Teaching War—The ‘Just War’ Doctrine in American History,” Florida Council for the Social Studies, October 2011
• “Teaching War in American History Classrooms,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2010
• “Is Wordle a Nasty Word? Postmortem of a Lesson Plan,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2010
• “’We Have Never Known What Death Was Before’—Teaching War in Social Studies Classrooms,” International Society for the Social Studies, February 2010
• “Emerging Technologies in the Social Studies,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2009
• “’If We Were Truly Brave’—Dueling in Digital Spaces,” National Council for the Social Studies, November 2009
• “’A Bloody, Indiscriminate Massacre’—Conceptualizations of War in American History Classrooms,” Florida Council for the Social Studies October 2009
• “Andrea’s Bored: Teacher Choice in Social Studies Instruction,” Florida Council for the Social Studies October 2008   

Professional Activities/Affiliations

• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
• National Board Certification: Adolescent/Young Adult—History (2004)
• Author, U.S. Institute of Peace Grant, Rider University: “The Just War Doctrine: A Framework for Conflict Resolution”
• Co-Author, Teaching American History Grant, Manatee County: “Freedom and Democracy” program

Personal Interests
Family time, with my wife Michelle and two daughters, Katie and Thea