My goal for this class is to help students make sense of their world by giving them a context within which they can develop into engaged, motivated and self-regulated learners. Weekly goals are outlined:

Week 1-2: Introduction to the basic rules governing U.S. elections and their evolution. We'll cover the constitutional requirements for presidential candidates and how these have changed over time.

Week 3-4: Exploration of the structural determinants of election outcomes and their impact on the strategies of candidates, parties, and interest groups. This includes understanding the nomination process and campaign strategies.

Week 5-6: Investigation into what influences voter decision-making and political participation. We'll look at factors that influence voting decisions and examine different aspects of voter behavior.

Week 7-8: Evaluation of the functioning of U.S. elections and discussion on proposals for reform. Students will apply what they've learned to evaluate specific electoral contests and propose reforms to improve the electoral process.

Tom Berriman, Secondary Guide & Coach

Thomas Berriman is an accomplished educator leader with over 16 years of experience in K-12 schools.  He earned his bachelor's degree in social studies from Lake Superior State University in 2004 and his  master's degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University in 2011. 

Tom began his career as a Social Studies teacher in Michigan in 2005 as a High School Geography and US  History teacher. In 2007, Tom and his wife moved to North Carolina where he taught at Anson County  and Montgomery County Public Schools until 2013. He taught social studies, coached sports, and earned  praise for his innovative teaching methods. Seeking to expand his impact, Berriman became an Assistant  Principal and Instructional Coach at Montgomery Learning Academy in 2013. He helped improve school  operations, discipline, and curriculum. 

In 2014, Berriman stepped into school leadership as the Principal/Superintendent of Byron Center  Charter School. His vision of educating the "whole child" helped shape the school's approach. Building  on his charter school success, Berriman was hired as Principal of Alpena High School in 2017. Over 4  years, he dramatically improved attendance rates, decreased tardiness and discipline issues, and  oversaw facilities upgrades. The school was recognized on the US News & World Report's top high  schools list each year. In 2021, Berriman transitioned to becoming Principal of Ella White Elementary  School, where he opened a new building and led it through construction challenges. 

Throughout his educational roles, Berriman has been committed to staff development, relationship  building, and restorative practices. He is skilled at managing change, budgets, and conflicts. His excellent  communication and motivational abilities allow him to connect with students, teachers, parents, and the  community. Tom has been part of professional development with the Michigan Council for Social  Studies and was a member of the 2019 committee that created the new Civics state standards for  Michigan.  

Tom currently lives in Alpena, Michigan with his wife, Holly, and three children (Avia-9, Badin 7, and  Emma-Coe 6). Tom was drawn to Social Studies through his passion for the Civil War and has been a  Reenactor since 1993. As a Reenactor, Tom has participated in large national events at Shiloh, Antietam,  Gettysburg, and Nashville. He has also participated in multiple movies and documentaries, including the  National Park Service movies at Fredericksburg and Antietam. He is a registered High School and College  baseball Umpire, as well as an avid Star Wars Lego builder.

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Yes. Formative, Diagnostic, and Summative Assessments. Any type of task assigned to a student is a form of assessment.
Grades Offered

https://k12database.unc.edu/activity/
https://www.icivics.org/
https://gop.com/about-our-party/
https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/
https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates,_2024