Savini, Maria

A bit about me...

-My parents were born in Italy and I speak fluent Italian. 

-I have no children; however, I am thrilled to be an aunt! My brother Franco and his wife, Yvonne, have four children named Julian, Giada and Kailey.  They are going to have another baby girl at the end of October 2018.

I adopted three kitties named Mylo, Sonic and Finn who enjoy chasing bird toys and waking me up each morning at 4:30 am so they can eat. 

-I enjoy drawing/painting with watercolors, collecting Early American antiques, period decor, reading and traveling to historic destinations/art museums.

-I am a lifelong learner, always on the lookout for new learning opportunities! I have been selected to participate in a number of competitive professional development programs over the years:

-2018, George Washington Teacher Institute Summer Residential Program, "Leadership and Legacy: Lessons From George Washington."  (Mt. Vernon)

-2017, Gilder Lehrman Institute: "The Kennedy Presidency" (Boston University).

-2017, Scholarship to attend the Colonial Williamsburg Institute for High School Teachers (Williamsburg, VA).

-2016, National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "Demon Times: Temperance, Immigration and  Prohibition" (Columbus, OH).

-2015, Gilder Lehrman Institute: "The Story of World War II" (The National WWII Museum in New Orleans).

-2014, National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "America's Industrial Revolution at the Henry Ford" (The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Michigan).

-2014, scholarship to attend "The Medal of Honor Legacy at the Freedom's Foundation" (Valley Forge). In 2014, I received The Sons of the American Revolution Teaching Excellence Award.

-2013, National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "Living on the Edge  of Empire: Alliance, Conflict and Captivity in Colonial New England" (Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts).

-2012, Gilder Lehrman/National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "Empire City: New York from 1877-Present" (Columbia University, NY).

-2011, National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "Abolitionism, Women's Rights and Religious Revivalism on the Rochester Reform  Trail" (Rochester & Seneca Falls, NY).

In 2008-2011, I participated in the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit's "Teaching American History Grant Program." TAH provided lectures from distinguished scholars and modeled new pedagogical approaches to history education. I also attended the capstone, "Teaching the American Civil Rights Institute" in 2011.

During the summer of 2010, I spent four weeks studying Constitutionalism at Georgetown University as part of my James Madison Memorial Fellowship for Teachers.  In 2008, I was awarded this fellowship (representing the State of Pennsylvania) which provided a scholarship to attend Villanova University. In 2014, I graduated summa cum laude from Villanova with a second master's degree (American History) and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi (Graduate) and Phi Alpha Theta (History) Honor Societies.

-2009, National Endowment of the Humanities Workshop: "Lowell and the  Industrial Revolution" (Lowell National Historical Park, MA). I investigated the origins and implications of the Industrial Revolution on  American society.

-In 2008, I was awarded the James Madison Memorial Fellowship for the State of Pennsylvania (one Fellowship being awarded to one teacher from each State).  As part of the Fellowship, received $24,000 to obtain a Master's Degree in American History at Villanova University.  In 2010, I took part in a month long intensive study of Constitutional History at Georgetown University. 

-2006, Gilder Lehrman Institute: "The Colonial Era: Structure & Texture"

(Yale University). I had the opportunity to study with the foremost Social Historian of the Colonial Era, Dr. John Demos.

-In 2006, I was also selected to represent the State of Pennsylvania during the first ever Presidential Academy for American History and Civics.  During this fourteen-day seminar, we explored the Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address and "I Have a Dream" Speech in the cities associated with their inception (Philadelphia, Gettysburg and Washington D.C.).  

-I am interested in Early American History and Women's History. I tend to gravitate towards Social Historical scholarship.

-I live in a home built in 1730 and decorated with 18th century antiques.  One of my favorite pastimes consists of hunting for new treasures for my house!  

-I find Art History to be a delightful and compelling diversion. Early American Folk Art (Edward Hicks), the Pre-Raphaelites (Dante Gabriel Rossetti & John William Waterhouse) and Flemish Art (Jan Van Eyck, Hieronymous Bosch & Pieter Brueghel the Elder/Younger) are among my favorites.

-I lived in Southern California (Claremont & Pasadena) for approximately 4 1/2 years.

-I earned a B.A. in Elementary Education with a Social Science minor and taught  5th and 8th grades.

-In 2004, I earned my first Master's Degree in History/Humanities and was inducted into Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the graduate honor society.

-I developed a passion for history while researching the Knights Templar in college and became enamored of all things pertaining to the Medieval/Renaissance periods.

-My interest in American History is a more recent development. Volunteering as an interpreter at Pennsbury Manor (William Penn's Country Estate) and Independence National Historical Park only served to reinforce my appreciation for this subject.