History Teacher, Jack Sheehan, Earns PhD in History

A heartfelt congratulations to Jack Sheehan, Middle School history teacher, for the successful defense of his dissertation and the recent attainment of his PhD in History. This remarkable accomplishment is the result of five years of intense study at Trinity College in Dublin, where Dr. Sheehan also earned his B.A. in History and an M.Phil in Creative Writing. 

The focus of Dr. Sheehan’s extensive doctoral research revolved around the intricate web of political connections intertwined between Irish traditional and folk music during the period of 1951-1973. “I've long been fascinated by cultural history, and musical history in particular,” shared Dr. Sheehan. “I recently heard a talk from a historian who raised the idea that modern historians often study the period of their parent's youth, and with my parents having been born in '52 and '53, this really resonated with me”

Dr. Sheehan began his teaching career at the university level, leading seminars on American and European history. He’s also taught history and creative writing to both middle school and high school students. He now teaches sixth and seventh grade American history and serves as an advisor. For Dr. Sheehan, history is more than an academic subject, it’s a gateway to understanding the world in which we live today. “What I love most,” writes Dr. Sheehan, “is seeing kids put together the connections between what we study and their own societies.” 

We are thrilled to have Dr. Sheehan sharing his passion and expertise with the young historians in our Middle School and grateful for the gifts of scholarship and education that he contributes to the Sacred Heart Greenwich community and beyond.