#  Building Religious and Cultural Literacy 

 





**John Camardella, MRPL '22**, a high school educator in Mt. Prospect, IL, works both in and out of the classroom to build religious and cultural literacy in his community.



 

August 28, 2025

 

 

     ![John Camardella headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Camardella_Headshot%20thumb.jpg?itok=36d-z7rM) 

John Camardella, MRPL '22



 



 

*John Camardella, MRPL ’22, High School Educator, High School District 214 (Mt. Prospect, IL)*

*View* [*more stories*](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots "Alumni Career Snapshots") *on HDS alumni and their career paths.*

## Describe the work you do today:

I teach all seniors at Prospect High School in the country’s first dual-credit religious studies course, a program that allows students to earn undergraduate credit through Eastern Illinois University before they graduate. Alongside my high school work, I also teach graduate courses and train educators, administrators, and organizational leaders (ranging from MLB coaches to school district superintendents) on building religious and cultural literacy in their communities. My work focuses on helping people understand religion as internally diverse, culturally embedded, and constantly evolving. Whether I’m in the classroom, leading professional workshops, or consulting on curriculum development, my goal is the same: to create meaningful, inclusive learning experiences that empower people to engage thoughtfully in a complex world.

## How has your HDS degree experience influenced your career journey?

My degree at HDS fundamentally reshaped the way I think, teach, and lead. Studying under Diane Moore and with my RPL colleagues gave me the language and frameworks to move beyond a static, traditions-based curriculum and toward a more nuanced, cultural studies approach. This shift didn’t just make my classes more dynamic; it gave my students the tools to interpret religion in context and to challenge simplistic narratives. The collaborative, interdisciplinary environment at HDS pushed me to think bigger: whether co-authoring national standards for teaching religion, piloting embodied pedagogies in my classroom, or consulting across sectors. Every day, I see the imprint of HDS in my work: a commitment to thoughtful, grounded engagement and the belief that education can be a powerful tool for building bridges across difference.

## What career advice would you offer to current HDS students?

Be intentional but stay open. When I arrived at HDS, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted out of the MRPL program. What I learned instead is that some of the most meaningful opportunities came from unplanned conversations, unexpected collaborations, and a willingness to grab a coffee with a random classmate at Swartz. Lean into the community around you... professors, classmates, visiting scholars, and allow those relationships to shape your learning. Most of all, think about how your work can serve others. Whether you’re headed into academia, education, ministry, or policy, the ability to listen and adapt can carry you further than a fixed plan.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Alumni News and Profiles ](/discover-stories-about/alumni-news-and-profiles)