Garden City High School social studies teacher Mr. Kevin O’Hagan and former GCHS social studies educator Dr. Mike Stratis are contributing to a series of radio discussions on Cosmos FM, exploring the history and significance of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.

Cosmos FM broadcasts under the auspices of the Greek American Educational Public Information System, Inc., a nonprofit media and educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Hellenic heritage in the United States through mass communication and educational programming.

As part of the nation’s upcoming America 250 commemoration, Dr. Stratis invited Mr. O’Hagan and fellow Garden City High School social studies teacher Mr. Mike Zagari to participate in a series of historical programs for Cosmos FM. The resulting five-part series explores key moments and figures of the Revolutionary era through topics such as “Pivotal Battles of the American Revolution,” presented by Mr. Zagari; “The Myths and Reality of the Declaration of Independence,” led by Mr. O’Hagan; and “The B-Listers of the Continental Congress,” which highlights lesser-known but influential members of the Continental Congress. The final installment will feature a three-person panel discussion.

Mr. O’Hagan and Mr. Zagari have long incorporated podcasting into their classrooms as a way to engage students in historical inquiry while developing communication skills. In addition to creating their own educational podcasts, they regularly assign projects that require students to research, write, record and edit original podcast episodes.

“Using podcasts is a great, modern way to develop important skills such as writing, editing and public speaking,” said Mr. O’Hagan. “Hopefully, these radio programs will inspire our students to pursue their interests and creativity while continuing to build the soft skills that are becoming even more valuable in the wake of the current AI revolution.”

Through their work both in and out of the classroom, these educators continue to bring history to life while encouraging students to develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed for the future.

To listen to all shows, please visit the CosmosFM’s website under the archives page, which can be found at https://www.cosmosfm.org/archives/.