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Daniel Soderstrom (born May 1994) is an American educator best known for his participation in the creation of College Board's new AP African American Studies course.

Career
During his time in college, Soderstrom worked for The Salvation Army with elementary students and also as a bell-ringer for Christmas kettles. During the 2017-2018 school year, Soderstrom was assigned as an intern at Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina during his student teaching at the University of South Carolina, where he received his masters in teaching secondary education. He previously earned his bachelors in history from the University of South Carolina. He was hired as a teacher at Ridge View High School beginning in 2018, where he began teaching African American Studies and AP World History.

AP African American Studies
Soderstrom was among the first teachers to lead the AP African American Studies pilot course. He taught the course at Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina, the only school in the state to offer it during its first year. In an interview with CNN, which also highlighted the teaching of AP African American Studies at Ridge VIew, Soderstrom explained that the purpose of the course was not to politicize any part of history or black culture, but rather to teach the parts of history that are often ignored or forgotten. Soderstrom has worked with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, and Robert J. Patterson, leading minds in the field of African American studies, in the course of developing the new class. Both to address public issues and publicize the course, Soderstrom appeared on the television series America in Black, in which he was featured in the classroom setting teaching the course at Ridge View. In the documentary, Soderstrom stated the reasons why AP African American Studies is not considered a history course, "because there are examples of black excellence in all fields of study." The television segment focused on teaching AP African American Studies amid legislation that attempts to block the teaching of Critical race theory, especially after Governor Ron DeSantis blocked the course in Florida. Soderstrom, alongside Nikole Hannah-Jones, Krystle Matthews, Ibram X. Kendi, and Mike Gonzalez of the The Heritage Foundation, highlighted the debates and discussion surrounding the teaching of race and history in public high schools. According to the Post and Courier, Soderstrom said that the course has adhered to legislation that aims to prevent the teaching of Critical race theory and the 1619 Project and that the course is necessary for students to receive a well-rounded education. He further advocated for the course in public setting when the South Carolina state department of education prohibited the teaching of the course, citing "controversy." Several of the students who took the course at Ridge View High School publicly advocated on its behalf.

International African American Museum
Soderstrom's inaugural African American Studies course is on display at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The exhibit includes description of the African American Studies course at Ridge View High School, as well as artifacts from the classroom.

Personal Life
Soderstrom also works for College Board, the non-profit group responsible for the creation of AP African American studies, as a developer of curriculum and examination writing.