Zoe Weil Receives 2023 NCSS Spirit of America Award
SILVER SPRING, Md. (Dec. 1, 2023) – Zoe Weil, the co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), received the NCSS Spirit of America Award at the 103rd Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), in Nashville. Weil received a $1,000 honorarium and a commemorative gift in recognition of her exemplary contributions to the “spirit of American Democracy.” Weil was a featured speaker at the NCSS Annual Conference.
As IHE’s co-founder and president, Zoe created the first graduate programs in comprehensive Humane Education linking human rights, environmental preservation, and animal protection, offered online through an affiliation with Antioch University. Zoe is a frequent keynote speaker at education and other conferences and has given six TEDx talks including her acclaimed TEDx, The World Becomes What You Teach. She is the author of seven books including #1 Amazon best seller in the Philosophy and Social Aspects of Education, The World Becomes What We Teach: Educating a Generation of Solutionaries; Nautilus silver medal winner Most Good, Least Harm, Moonbeam gold medal winner Claude and Medea, and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times. Zoe was named one of Maine Magazine’s 50 independent leaders transforming their communities and the state and is the recipient of the Unity College Women in Environmental Leadership award. She was also a subject of the Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait series and received the Distinguished Alumnae Achievement Award from the Nightingale-Bamford School. She holds master’s degrees from Harvard Divinity School and the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Valparaiso University.
The Spirit of America Award is co-sponsored by NCSS and Social Studies School Service. Recognition is given to an individual, in or out of the social studies profession, who has made a significant or special contribution which exemplifies the “American Democratic Spirit." The award honors persons who follow their conscience and act against current thinking in order to stand up for equity, freedom, and the American spirit of justice.
“Heartfelt congratulations to Zoe Weil for being honored with the esteemed Spirit of America Award. Her pioneering efforts in humane education, championing the principle of maximizing positive impact while minimizing harm, are laying the groundwork for a transformative shift in the educational landscape. Her unwavering commitment to nurturing students into 'solutionaries' holds immense promise for spearheading change and fostering a more compassionate and sustainable future,” said Wesley Hedgepeth, NCSS president.
“NCSS is honored to recognize Zoe Weil for her commitment and dedication to education. Her accomplishments help educators and learners nationwide to be engaged in lifelong inquiry and informed civic life and action,” said Dr. Lawrence Paska, NCSS executive director.
“Social Studies School Service is thrilled to join with NCSS in honoring Zoe Weil with the Spirit of America Award. As the 33rd recipient of this award, Zoe is in the good company of outstanding individuals who have been recognized for taking risks in the public arena to advance democratic principles and create change,” said David Weiner, Social Studies School Service chief executive officer.
Since 1989, NCSS has co-sponsored the Spirit of America Award with Social Studies School Service, located in Culver City, Calif. Former recipients include President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Marian Wright Edelman, Senator Barry Goldwater, Dolores Huerta, Khizr Khan, Jim Lehrer, Senator George McGovern, Ralph Nader, Rosa Parks, Rosie Rios, Fred Rogers, Loung Ung, Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of President Harry S. Truman), and Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Masahiro Sasaki.
The NCSS Annual Conference is the largest and most comprehensive social studies professional development conference in the United States, where social studies educators share, interact, develop ideas, and enhance their skills. This year’s theme, “Social Studies: Working in Harmony for a Better Tomorrow,” offers more than 500 content-rich sessions covering all subjects and grade levels, a lineup of renowned speakers and education experts, and numerous exhibiting organizations displaying the latest in educational resources. For more information visit: www.socialstudies.org/conference.
Social Studies School Service has been a leader in educational resources since 1965, searching out the highest quality supplementary learning materials, including books, CD-ROMs, videos, DVD, software, charts, and posters. Their experienced editorial staff and teacher consultants carefully evaluate titles from over a thousand publishers, searching for materials that are effective, balanced, easy to use, and reasonably priced.
Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. Its mission is to provide leadership, service, and support for all educators. The NCSS membership represents K-12 classroom teachers, college and university faculty members, curriculum designers and specialists, social studies supervisors, and leaders in the various disciplines that constitute the social studies.
For More Information:
Joy D. Lindsey
Deputy Executive Director
301.850.7458
jlindsey@ncss.org
