CCSS 2022 Awards
Specialized Educator Awards
Ruth Delzell Award for Outstanding Service
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Molly Snyder
Molly Snider, educational coach, teacher, and presenter, serves on the California Council for the Social Studies Board. Additionally, she chairs the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Committee which creates the CCSS Spotlight, and is the Lake-Mendocino Chapter President for California Reading Association. An invitation from a colleague, Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, led to a Teaching American History grant, shaping Molly’s practice and advocacy for history-social studies. Through her work, she promotes interdisciplinary learning powered by literacy with the belief that ALL students bring assets, voice, and capacity to connect with others.
Diane L. Brooks Administrative Award
Roberto Saldivar
After having taught, coached, and been an assistant principal at Anaheim High School Robert took over his Alma Mater as principal in 2016. Thanks to hard working and dedicated staff, over the past five years AHS has significantly increased graduation rates, doubled their A-G rates, and thanks to their school wide efforts with civic engagement AHS has been a recipient of the Civic Learning Award given by the California State Department of Ed for the past two years! This is a testament to some of the amazing work that is being done at AHS by staff like Ms. Michelle Majewski, Social Science Department Chari and Civic Engagement Coordinator, and her Social Science team. Tonight’s award is a tribute to the hard work, dedication, and leadership from the staff and administration at Anaheim High School.
Carol Marquis Global Understanding Award
Thomas Herman
Having never taken a geography course before college, Tom Herman chose geography as a field of study because of the discipline’s power to make sense of the world and help him find his place in it. He has been teaching, and more importantly learning, for over 30 years. As leader of the California Geographic Alliance since 2013, he has contributed to the field of geography education by creating professional learning experiences for K-12 educators, increasing support and resources for K-12 geography education, and talking about how geography can help California’s students build a better future for themselves.
Saturday Morning
Saturday, March 5
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Saturday Afternoon
Saturday, March 5
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM
Roy L. Erickson Civic Education Award
Dr. Jeffrey Soo Kim
Dr. Jeff Kim, Ed.D, NBCT, MPH, has been working in schools for the past 20 years and has served in many roles including induction support provider, department chair, administration, instructional coach, and civic lead. He is currently teaching in the Anaheim Union High School District. Under his leadership, his school has earned the Civic Learning Award of Excellence. Dr. Kim also continues to serve as part-time lecturer at Cal State University, Fullerton where he is training up the next generation of teachers. Dr. Kim earned his Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USC and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Roy L. Erickson Civic Education Award
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Jose A. Sanchez
Jose Sanchez is a teacher of social studies and foreign languages at Alhambra High School in Alhambra, CA. In his 18 years of teaching, Mr. Sanchez has taught AP Human Geography, AP U.S. History and currently teaches civics and serves as the schools Academic Decathlon coach. In the last five years, Mr. Sanchez’ students have made news by being the only students in 2018 to draft gun legislation introduced by the Congresswoman Judy Chu as House Resolution 1076. In 2019, Mr. Sanchez’ students drafted immigration policy and worked to make their local city a sanctuary for immigrants and debated council members for three months. Today, Mr. Sanchez’ students are working on interviewing local assembly district candidates for their mock election and are working with the city council to build the city’s first skate park. Mr. Sanchez was named a “Champion of Civics” in 2021 by the California Department of Education & the California Supreme Court
The California Council for the Social Studies
Economics Educator Award
Emily Drum
Hilda Taba Award
Greg Fisher
Born and raised in Los Angeles. Attended CSU Northridge (B.A., Psychology, Minor, Economics, Teaching Credential). Pepperdine University (M.A., American Studies), CSU Dominguez Hills (M.A., Educational Leadership). Social studies teacher for 33 years (Westchester HS, California Academy of Math and Science HS, Narbonne HS). Adjunct professor at CSU Dominguez Hills TED program. Adult School teacher for 12 years in LAUSD. Developed Economics lessons/contests, including ‘Economics Ambassadors’, ‘Financial Advisor Contest’, and an entrepreneurship project ‘Student Inventors, Inc.’ Principal of Harts Academy for seven years. Now devoting my human capital on teacher development designing lessons and workshop presentations as board member of CASET and CCEE.
Ruben Zepeda Award
Patrick Davarhanian
Student Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Award
Faith West
Earlier in the school year we experienced a heartbreaking incident that changed not only our school but some of our students for the worst. My friend and I realized that there needed to be some sort of change within our school. We decided to form a club that would act as a student union and speak out against injustice within our school community. Our members have gone to board meetings signed petitions and joined protests in order to try and make changes within our school. We hang posters and hold informative meetings but most importantly we educate. Everyone in our club has been welcomed with open arms and without discrimination or hate for past issues.
Emily Drum has been a History-Social Science teacher for 14 years and now serves as an Instructional Coach for Porterville Unified School District. She is an enthusiastic educator dedicated to empowering teachers and students by making content relevant and obtainable. She works with teachers to develop and implement high-quality instructional practices in Economics and is a passionate advocate for Economics education in the community at the district and county levels. She was recognized in 2021 as a California Exceptional Economics Teacher after completing a rigorous year-long professional development program sponsored by CASET and California Council on Economic Education (CCEE).
Having worked in education for over a decade, Patrick Davarhanian has learned how to best advocate for his students while supporting his colleagues. Patrick is a GSA advisor, dedicated mentor teacher, and the social science department chair at Clark Magnet High School. He has created and presented numerous professional development opportunities on how to encourage inclusive school environments. He has tripled GSA membership in a club that was struggling to survive. He established his school’s annual FAIR Act display. And he created Glendale Unified School District’s first ever Ethnic Studies course designed to empower his students and establish a platform for civic engagement.
Student Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Award
Bryanna Smith
A few months ago a horrible and hateful incident occurred at my high-school. I was deeply offended, upset and frankly disgusted at what had happened I couldn’t stop thinking of it. So i discussed it with my friend. someone needed to take action. so we took that into our own hands, With the help of our advisor Ms Oneto we formed our student union. to fight against hate, discrimination, and injustice in our school and community. We have gone to board meetings, and joined protests in an effort to make real change to social justice issues. We support anyone in need with no judgement. But most importantly our goal is to educate and hold people accountable. It's our job to make sure that incidents like this are no longer such common Experiences and we welcome anyone to join us in the fight against hate and injustice with open arms.
Teacher Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Award
Ruth Luevanos
Ruth Luevanos is a mother, a wife, a teacher, a union leader, an activist, a law school graduate, a youth mentor, and the first Latina ever elected to the Simi Valley City Council. She is a tireless advocate for her students and for all young people and has dedicated her life to ensuring that every single student is able to receive a quality education regardless of their background. Ruth is a National Board Certified teacher in Social Studies who has dedicated over 20 years to teaching underserved students in Title 1 schools. She is currently a teacher at a continuation school in Reseda. She and her three sisters co-founded an educational consulting company called Sisterhood For Equity which addresses issues of educational inequity through data and research. She has presented at AERA, NCSS, CCSS and NCGE conferences.
Educator Award Winners
Outstanding Higher Education Teacher of the Year
Outstanding Pre-Service
Teacher of the Year
