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Professional 

Awards

TEACHER of the YEAR AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Elementary Outstanding Teacher

The purpose of the CCSS Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year is to recognize an educator whose classroom teachings in grades K-6 and whose professional practices reflect the goals and purposes of an exemplary social studies education. 

Middle School Outstanding Teacher

The purpose of the CCSS Outstanding Middle Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year is to recognize an educator whose classroom teachings in grades 5-8 and whose professional practices reflect the goals and purposes of an exemplary social studies education.   

Senior High Outstanding Teacher

The purpose of the CCSS Outstanding Secondary Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year is to recognize an educator whose classroom teachings in grades 7-12 and whose professional practices reflect the goals and purposes of an exemplary social studies education.   

Pre-Service Teacher

To recognize pre-service teachers who have been excellent in the field.  

Rookie Teacher (1 - 5 years experience)

The purpose of the CCSS Outstanding Rookie Social Studies Teacher of the Year is to recognize an educator with one to five years of experience whose classroom teachings in grades K-12 and whose professional practices reflect the goals and purposes of an exemplary social studies education. 

SPECIALIZED EDUCATOR AWARDS

Outstanding Higher Education HSS Teacher

This award recognizes an educator whose higher education instruction and professional practices reflect the goals and purposes of an exemplary social studies education.  

Hilda Taba Award

This award is named for Hilda Taba, a university professor at San Francisco State University who significantly influenced education and is internationally renown for her work in “concept development” in the social studies.  The Taba Award is CCSS's highest honor, and is awarded to a Californian who has made a significant contribution to social studies education in California.  

Diane L. Brooks Administrative Award

This award recognizes an educator an administrator at the district, state or local level who has contributed significantly to the profession of social studies education.  

Ruth Delzell CCSS Outstanding Service

This award recognizes CCSS members whose dedication on both state and local levels has contributed significantly to the CCSS organization and to the profession of social studies education. 

 

Carol Marquis Global Understanding Award

The Carol Marquis Award was named for Carol Marquis, a respected educator who significantly influenced social studies teachers and students to understand  global perspectives.  This award recognizes a California educator who has made notable contributions in helping social studies students increase their understanding of the world.   

Roy Erickson Civic Education Leadership Award

This award recognizes a California educational leader legislator, or community/organization leader who has made notable contributions toward promoting or implementing civic learning in California schools to prepare students to be engaged and responsible citizens.   

 

The California Council for the Social Studies Economics Educator Award

This award is given to a California K-16 teacher, administrator, program director, or retiree who has made notable contributions to student empowerment by strengthening students’ mastery of economic reasoning and the application of that reasoning to their daily decisions. In addition, the nominee has helped teachers or students use economic reasoning to analyze and inform historical decisions or past, current, and future public policies. The nominee makes use of current scholarship/methodology in this endeavor.

EQUITY, INCLUSION & SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARDS

Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice Educator Award

This award recognizes educators in elementary, middle, high school, and university and college level who have advocated for women, the LGBTQ community, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, immigrants, disabled people, and people of diverse religious, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds in their classrooms and their communities. 

Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice Student Award

This award recognizes students who have advocated for women, the LGBTQ community, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, immigrants, disabled people, and people of diverse religious, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds in their classrooms and their communities. 

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