Carly Donick
CCSS 2026 ELECTION
At-Large Candidate
Carly Donick
Bio
Carly Donick is a “Teacher on Special Assignment” for her school district. As part of her role as TOSA, Carly works with high school students across the district as they complete their civic engagement projects and work towards earning the California State Seal of Civic Engagement. She also supports secondary curriculum and instruction and educational technology. Prior to being a TOSA, she taught middle school social studies for 18 years. She has a Masters in Education, an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction and Gifted Education, and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Instructional Leadership from Harvard. Carly is currently the Central California VP for the CA Council for the Social Studies and served as the middle school teacher representative on the NCSS Board of Directors for the last three years. She is also a member of several teacher advisory groups, including iCivics CA Teacher Fellowship, and NYH WAMS Ambassador Alumni.
Position Statement
I would like to continue to serve on the CCSS Board of Directors. I believe that civic education is one of the most important topics in social studies education right now. Teaching students how to become engaged and involved citizens is crucial. I would like to support schools and districts as they implement and develop programs like the California State Seal of Civic Engagement which provides a guideline for students to learn about their government and make a meaningful contribution to their community. Supporting social studies teachers is equally important. Organizations like CCSS support teachers across the state, providing them with training, resources and networking. I would like to help make more teachers aware of the resources available through CCSS and the opportunities to learn from and collaborate with one another.
What strengths will I bring to the CCSS Board of Directors?
I have served on the NCSS and CCSS Board of Directors and in those roles, collaborated with different organizations to support social studies teachers, communicated with my local region and other state councils, and helped review strategic plans. As a member of my school's School Site Council for 5+ years, I helped review the school's budget. My strength in a group setting is helping with organization and logistics. I would appreciate learning from fellow Board members who have experience leading organizations, navigating challenging decisions, and bringing people together around a shared vision.