James A. Percoco

Historian, Educator

Civil War Trust

James A. Percoco is a nationally recognized history educator with over 33 years of service to American education. The author of three previous books, his books A Passion for the Past: Creative Teaching of US History and Divided We Stand: Teaching About Conflict in US History are staples in collegiate social studies methods courses across the United States. Percoco has pioneered the combination of public education with public history utilizing public history opportunities throughout his curriculum. Thirty-six of his students have worked for the National Park Service, several who are currently in leadership positions. Many of his former students also became social studies/history teachers.

A prolific speaker, Percoco demonstrates how to use historic sites and museums as adjuncts to his teaching and has modeled his approach in countless in-service programs nationally.

Pulitzer Prize winning author and biographer David McCullough has called Percoco, “a national treasure” and Yohuru Williams has dubbed Percoco as “America’s History Teacher.”

Percoco is a Gilder-Lehrman Teacher of the Year (Virginia) and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2011.

He has been the Teacher-in-Residence at the Civil War Trust since 2014.

Contributions

Wars for Independence

Jim Percoco describes the early years of the United States through the lens of the two major wars, the War for Independence and the War of 1812, that established and secured the American cause.

Monuments of the Revolutionary War

Jim Percoco explains the history behind Revolutionary War monuments in America.

Bunker Hill

Historian James Percoco discusses the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Answers to Questions Kids Ask About the Civil War

This article provides answers to questions about the Civil War that may be asked by children.

A Field Trip with Battle Apps

Students from Jim Percoco and Brad Swain's Applied History classes at West Springfield High School take a field trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield that includes the use of our Gettysburg Battle App at Little Round Top and Devil's Den.

Siege of Boston

Jim Percoco explains the arduous task that faced the Continental Army as they attempted to force the British out of Boston in 1776.

Lexington and Concord

Jim Percoco brings to life the story of Lexington and Concord, and explains the history behind "the shot heard 'round the world."

Benedict Arnold

Jim Percoco talks about the life and legacy of Benedict Arnold.

Ten Classroom Strategies for Teaching the Civil War

The Civil War Trust's teacher-in-residence outlines ten effective classroom strategies for Civil War educators and calls for other ideas.

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