Mr. Bergstrom
AP World History, Government, AP Government, Economics, Journalism
[email protected]

Mr. Bergstrom, also known as "Bergie," is a dynamic educator with 20 years of experience teaching AP World History, Government, Economics, and Journalism. He holds a Bachelor's of Art in History and a Master's in Education from UCLA, as well as an Administrative Credential from Cal State Dominguez Hills. A CASET-certified and highly qualified teacher in Economics, Mr. Bergstrom brings real-world scenarios into the classroom with engaging simulations, games, and Socratic seminars.

Mr. Bergstrom’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the Latin phrase "Discite a Faciendo," which translates to "students learn by doing." His classroom fosters a culture of perseverance, where students are encouraged to continue striving until they master a concept, regardless of how many attempts it takes.

He is passionate about Economics, believing it to be the most essential class any high school student can take. His classroom is paperless, equipped with laptops for each student and a Promethean board for interactive lessons. In addition to teaching, he advises The Hart Beat (the school newspaper), the Class of 2027, and serves on the Instructional Leadership Team.

Outside of school, Mr. Bergstrom is an avid traveler who has scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro and led his own safari through Africa. His students have affectionately nicknamed him "Bergy," and he enjoys playing the ukulele in his downtime. Despite nearly failing high school himself, Mr. Bergstrom’s vow to be a different kind of teacher has led him to create a classroom environment where students actively look forward to learning. His unique approach includes activities such as reverse auctions, cost-benefit analyses of candy, and mock Federal Reserve board meetings, making Economics unexpectedly fun.

Mr. Bergstrom has been honored with the 2022 Golden Apple Award and the California Council of Economic Education’s "Best Teacher in the Universe" Award. His proudest moments, however, come from the personal notes he receives from students, thanking him for making a difference in their lives. His goal moving forward is to earn National Board Certification and ensure that every student in his AP Government course passes with a college-level score.

When he’s not teaching, Mr. Bergstrom enjoys spending time with his three sisters and close friends, though he admits that balancing work and life is a challenge. He remains committed to making every class an experience students will never forget.