Long Island high school teacher makes history feel real through personal journey

History teacher Chris Costanzo didn’t just read about America’s past — he set out to experience it firsthand. Over two years, the Eastport-South Manor High School educator traveled across the country stopping at the 48 mainland state capitol buildings, exploring more than 100 battlefields and visiting the homes of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence in hopes of making history feel less distant. In most states, he also climbed to the top of the tallest man-made structure.

“I always loved social studies and wanted students to feel that same excitement,” said Costanzo, 45, of Shoreham. “If they can see that you care, they’re more willing to care too.”

Costanzo, who was born and raised in the district, teaches grades 9 through 12, including including AP World History, AP European History and AP U.S. History. He said his ambitious journey was not simply a personal adventure, but a way to bring history to life for his students.

This philosophy was instilled early in his career by mentor Todd Skala, a retired Eastport-South Manor teacher who encouraged him to focus on relationships as much as content. Costanzo took the advice to heart — and began mapping historical sites connected to his curriculum. Between 2010 and 2012, he planned tightly scheduled weekend trips around the country. “I would fly Saturday morning — like to Utah — rent a car and drive,” he said. “I systematically planned out based on sunlight where to go in the state in one day, then fly back by Sunday.” He said he traveled frugally by staying in the cheapest hotels and eating at McDonald’s and Subway.

Seeing these places in person changed how Costanzo views history, he said. After visiting every U.S. president’s birthplace and grave, he uses physical details to make the subject tangible. “When you compare George Washington’s simple grave to Warren G. Harding’s more elaborate one, it tells a story,” he said. Those contrasts help students understand how wealth, land ownership and power shaped our past.

Colleagues say that firsthand experience resonates with students.

“Students stay engaged because Chris brings history to life through his vast curriculum knowledge, storytelling and insights from his travels,” said Stephen Posselt, the school’s director of social studies. “His energy and passion for the subject help students connect with the material and see its relevance in a larger context.”

Students said Constanzo’s approach makes learning memorable.

“Mr. Constazo is incredibly knowledgeable about history and always seems to have the right answer,” said junior Lilyana Tepper, 16. “He often goes off on fascinating side stories about historical facts you’d never find in a textbook.”

Today he travels less frequently, focusing more on family life.