Welcome, curious historian!

My friends call me Andrew. My students call me Mr. Burt. I founded Backstage History to change the reputation of history education from “boring” to essential.

A Master of the Narrative

I’ve been obsessed with the "why" of history since I was a teenager. Back in high school, I was an avid theater actor and a dedicated history nerd; I even managed to secure a 5 on the APUSH exam my junior year. I don't mention the score to brag, but to let you know that I’ve been through the "production" myself. I know the pressure, the late-night cramming, and the confusion of a dry textbook. I’ve navigated the script, and now I’m here to help you do the same without the stress.

That passion for the performance of history led me to UC Berkeley, where I earned a dual major in U.S. History and Political Science in 2012. While I’ve never been the cutthroat competitive type, I spent four years leading the Berkeley Mock Trial team to Nationals. For me, it wasn’t about the trophy; it was about the collaborative energy of deconstructing a case and building a narrative that actually made sense to an audience.

A Career-Long Commitment to the Classroom

My teaching journey has been a decade-plus road through the heart of the Bay Area. After earning my Master of Arts in Education from USC in 2015, I spent years in the Oakland Unified School District, teaching everything from World History to APUSH. In 2016, I was honored to serve as the History Department Chair at Skyline High School, where I focused on supporting fellow teachers in making history more accessible and engaging for every kind of learner. I became an official scorer for the College Board’s Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH Test) in 2020 and have graded different questions every year since.

In 2021, my perspective on education shifted profoundly when I became a father. Watching my child learn to navigate the world reminded me that education is personal; it’s about legacy, curiosity, and the stories we pass down. This shift drew me back to my own creative roots, leading me to the Oakland School for the Arts, where I currently blend academic rigor with artistic expression.

The Collaborative Approach

I don’t believe in dry lectures or high-pressure environments that treat students like test-taking machines. My style is holistic, relatable, and deeply collaborative. Whether we are analyzing the media’s influence on the 1960s or digging into a multimedia primary source project, my goal is to capture the emotional essence of the past.

As a veteran teacher and a parent, I see my students as the next generation of "backstage crew." I want to help young minds see that history isn't a list of dead dates on a page; it is a living, breathing story that they are now a part of. Together, we’ll build the scaffolding you need to move beyond the script and find your own voice in the American narrative.