National Social Studies Conference
Honors Excellence in Teaching and Research
SILVER SPRING, Md. (Dec. 5, 2025) – National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is pleased to announce its award-winning social studies educators and researchers for 2025, each of whom was honored today by President Tina M. Ellsworth, Ph.D, at the opening ceremony of the 105th NCSS Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
NCSS FASSE Outstanding Teachers of the Year Awards were awarded to educators for demonstrating exceptional ability as a social studies teacher.
Barbara Bromley from Hazelwood Elementary School in Lynnwood, WA received the Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award.
Irene Ann Resenly from Kromrey Middle School in Middleton, WI, received the Middle Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award. Jessica Culver from Ozark School District in Ozark, AR received the Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award.
Ruby Nemeth from Brownsburg Community School Corporation in Brownsburg, IN received the Geography Grant Award for her project titled, ”Mapping the Future: Empowering Inclusive Social Studies with the Cadence Braille Display”.
Dr. Sara Evers from Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA, Dr. David Hicks from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA and Dr. Suzanne Shelburne from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA received the Exemplary Research in Social Studies Award, for single study research in social studies, “Whose Historical Thinking? Representation of Women in the Digital Inquiry Group’s Reading Like a Historian World History Curriculum".
Dr. Hana Jun from Indiana University of Bloomington, IN, received the Larry Metcalf Exemplary Dissertation Award for her research titled, ”Teachers' and Students' Historical Understanding of Gender: A Series of Case Studies in South Korea”.
Kent M. Bailey from Loudoun County Public Schools in Purcellville, VA, Jennifer Renee Rodgers from Loudoun County Public Schools in Sterling, VA, and Matthew Talboo of Loudoun County Public Schools in Lovettsville, VA, received the Award for Global Understanding Given in Honor of James M. Becker for their notable contributions in helping social studies students increase their understanding of the world through their work on the Loudoun International Summit. This award is sponsored by the Longview Foundation.
Jeron Velasco from Dishchii’bikoh Community School in Cibecue, AZ received the Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award for implementing imaginative, innovative, and illustrative social studies teaching strategies and supporting student implementation of innovative social studies through his project "Purple Hearts of Cibecue: Honoring Apache Heroes".
Tim Hall from Vance County Schools in Henderson, NC, and Christopher Murray from Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, MD, received the Religious Literacy Award for their efforts to integrate knowledge of diverse faith traditions, inclusive of the Sikh tradition, into courses or curricula at their school or designed pedagogy with values of respect, and social justice that acknowledge and respect students’ religious practices. This award is an Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award, a collaboration between NCSS and the Kaur Foundation.
“Congratulations to this year's NCSS award winners for your exceptional contributions to social studies education. Your unwavering commitment and dedication, especially in a field that continues to present challenges, have not gone unnoticed. Your work reflects the highest standards of teaching, research, and service, and it underscores the vital role social studies educators play in shaping a more informed, compassionate, and globally-minded society.” said Tina M. Ellsworth, Ph.D, NCSS president.
"This year’s award winners are outstanding in their respective disciplines. They are dedicated educators, researchers, and practitioners. We celebrate their commitment to realizing the vision of NCSS: a world in which all students are educated and inspired for lifelong inquiry and informed civic action. Congratulations to all the award winners – now more than ever, strong, vibrant and staunch advocates of social studies are needed. As this year’s conference theme reminds us, ‘democracy depends on it'." said Kelly McFarland Stratman, NCSS executive director.
NCSS awards educators each year at its Annual Conference for excellence in social studies education. More information on NCSS FASSE awards and recognition programs can be found here.
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, “Because Democracy Depends On It,” 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. Registration details and further information can be found here.
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
