William Turnbul

Born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota, literal blocks away from the Mayo Clinic, I spent the vast majority of my student-hood (nearly 12 years) attending the Rochester Catholic Schools (RCS) before graduating from Lourdes High School in 2021. While I grew up and was educated in a closely-knit community, I feel that my experience with RCS isolated and sheltered me from alternative worldviews. My hopes are to immerse my students in a diverse curriculum so they can make their own informed decisions, with all the nuance that is required for their futures.

Up until relatively recently, I hadn't given much mind to education as a career path, something represented in my brief stints as a Law Enforcement, Computer Science, Zoology, Business, and/or Journalism major. Fortunately, I have settled (finally) on my current double-major of Social Studies Education and Archaeology.

Outside of the classroom and archaeology, I enjoy flint knapping, building computers, reading fiction (largely of the Historical and Fantastical variety), skiing, running, archery, listening to a menagerie of music genres, and cooking.

My teaching philosophy, I think, is effectively demonstrated by the quotes “If you can teach your lesson without anyone else in the room, you need to rethink your lesson,” and, “What is important for students to understand and know what to be able to do?” However, I want to challenge my students to go beyond understanding and into the realm of application, analysis, and evaluation.

While comprehending History, Geography, Economics, Government, and Civics is important, comprehension means nothing if a student cannot apply their understanding in a way that helps them navigate the complexities of their lives and society. It is my opinion that Social Studies helps people learn how to form a better and more stable foundation so that things like medicine, science, mathematics, and art can flourish, furthering the development, survival, and happiness of humanity.

In other words, while I love the actual content of History, Geography, Economics, Government, and Civics, their importance is secondary to the further development of my students’ critical thinking skills. History provides many lessons and examples for the present and future, but no amount of time and effort can teach my students all of human history. However, helping them develop self-teaching skills opens up a wealth of knowledge and many avenues of potential uses. Through critical thinking, they can challenge their preconceived notions and the notions of others, helping them to make informed decisions as leaders or backing the leaders that most closely align to their personal beliefs

• CSU College of Liberal Arts: Dean's List - Fall Semester of 2024

• January 2024 - December 2024
• I observed and aided at Blevins Middle School in the classrooms of Mr. Mark Lonac and Mr. Shawn Radis.
• I observed, aided, and taught a lesson at Lincoln Middle School in the classroom of Ms. Gina Panighetti.

• January 2025 - Present
• I am currently observing and aiding in Mr. Andy Buchanan's AP U.S. History class with a plan to teach at least two lessons.
• Alongside two of my peers, we are currently planning to teach a lesson on the 1920s in the United States.