By MINDY KINNAMAN
Special to The Star
Bernard Campbell Middle
School history teacher Kathy
Giangreco has published a
book about the U.S.
presidents. She recently led
her eighth-grade students in
a study of the formation of
the fledgling country’s
government.
A chance opportunity led a Lee’s Summit
educator to publish a book on American
presidents while learning about the
difficulty of balancing writing, work
and family.
Kathy Giangreco’s book, The
American President: A Complete History,
was released in October by Barnes and
Noble Books.
Giangreco, a 21-year veteran of the
Lee’s Summit School District, teaches
American history to eighth-grade
students at Bernard Campbell Middle
School.
The book, published under Giangreco’s
maiden name, Kathryn Moore, provides an
in-depth look at the country’s 43
presidents and their personal and
political experiences.
Giangreco said that the opportunity,
as with her previous two books, fell
into her lap. Barnes and Noble had
approached her husband, Dennis, to write
a book on the presidents. Busy with
other things, he suggested his wife for
the project, as they previously had
collaborated on Dear Harry ...
Truman’s Mailroom, 1945-1953.
“She already had an extensive
interest and knowledge in the
presidents,” Dennis said. “It seemed
like one of those subjects she could
immediately put herself into. This
particular one was one where she could
get a handle on it and work at a pretty
flexible pace.”
The flexibility was necessary as
Giangreco continued to teach full time
while writing the book. She decided to
focus on one president at a time, first
researching, then writing.
Giangreco then had to decide how she
would work.
“I started off thinking I would do
all of the one-term presidents first,”
she said. “That didn’t happen. Things
happen chronologically. I started with
the early presidents since I am more
familiar with them. I teach that period
and have studied it most recently.
“I found it more difficult to do more
recent presidents. There is not as much
information. Also, with recent
presidents, it is difficult because you
have to present it in a non-biased way.
I think I did that.”
A great deal of research went into
the two-year project. Giangreco enjoyed
discovering information on the
presidents and their lives.
“I consider it to be like detective
work,” she said about the research. “I
start with a question, and as I’m
looking for the answer, I find myself
asking more questions. Soon I’m caught
in a web of research. I have to pull
back and go, ‘What was the original
question?’ ”
Dennis agreed that the research
sometimes consumed Giangreco.
She had to find ways to balance her
writing with teaching and caring for her
family.
“It was a difficult time that
required a great deal of scheduling and
understanding with my family,” she said.
“There were times when I had absolutely
no free time.
“I would just fit in writing as well
as I could in afternoons, evenings,
weekends — whenever I could fit it in.”
Giangreco was pleased with the book
and the way Barnes and Noble produced
it. “This is something that will stand
up and can be used on and on,” she said.
She is scheduled to produce an
updated version in early 2009. The new
version will include the end of
President George W. Bush’s term and
information about the country’s next
president.
So far, Giangreco has received a lot
of positive feedback. Co-workers held a
book signing and recommended the book to
their family and friends. Her students
have said that publishing a book is
“cool.”
Giangreco also has received positive
feedback from presidential museums, with
many requesting to buy copies for their
gift shops.
Giangreco, who has not yet heard
sales figures, already has started
working on another book. Unlike her
previous books, it will not have a
deadline. She enjoys being able to write
at her own pace, which makes balancing
writing with her home and work life
easier.
The next book will look at
presidential wife Martha Jefferson.
Because of the large number of books on
Thomas Jefferson, she thought it would
be fascinating to focus upon his wife
instead.
“I find that more challenging, and I
always like a challenge,” Giangreco
said.
"It runs in the family..."
PLJH teacher and students play a part
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