Michelle M. Herczog, Ed.D.
BIO
Michelle Herczog is History-Social Science, Consultant III for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, responsible for providing professional development, resources, and support for K-12 social studies educators throughout the 80 school districts of Los Angeles County. She currently serves on the Power of Democracy Steering Committee led by California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and completed service on the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning led by the Chief Justice and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.
Dr. Herczog has also served as Vice-Chair of the California Instructional Quality Commission for the California State Board of Education, President of the National Council for the Social Studies, and President of California Council for the Social Studies. As a member of the Social Studies Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction (SSACI) Committee of the Council of Chief State School Officers she helped develop the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards published by the National Council for the Social Studies.
Dr. Herczog has authored numerous social studies curriculum materials, reports, and resources, and actively advocates for effective social studies education at local, state and national levels. She received her Doctoral Degree in Education at the University of California, Los Angeles; Master of Arts in Education at California State University, Northridge; and Bachelor of Arts in History at University of California, Los Angeles.
STATEMENT
An updated History-Social Science Framework, textbook adoption cycle, and a new accountability system present new challenges and opportunities for CCSS to be at the center. As California’s leading professional organization for supporting and promoting high quality social studies education, we bring together classroom teachers, administrators, colleges and universitites, for-profit and non-profit organizations all committed to preparing young people for college, career, and civic life. Our partnerships need to be strengthened, our conferences can be even more dynamic, and our membership must grow. Our voice needs to be heard in every teachers’ lounge, at every school board meeting, in the halls of our state capitol, at legislative hearings, the Governor’s desk, and at the State Board of Education.
Throughout my career as a classroom teacher, county office history-social science consultant, past president of CCSS and NCSS, I have learned much from talented educators at all levels, dedicated to providing history, geography, economics, civic learning, and humanities education to every student beginning in Kindergarten. The sands of policy change are shifting radically. Now, more than ever, we need to draw from our collective experiences and step up to become strong political players in policy reform at local, state, and federal levels. If elected, I plan to bring together the social studies community to restore the dignity of history-social science education in every classroom across our state.