The Indiana Council for the Social Studies' Distinguished Teacher Award will be presented at the State conference. This honor will be given to two educators who have demonstrated exceptional teaching abilities in the field of social studies, elementary or secondary. Each honoree will be awarded a plaque, $100, and free conference registration. Anyone may nominate a teacher using the criteria set forth below. This is an opportunity to show appreciation for the many wonderful people who influence Indiana’s children.
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD
The Special Service Award is presented to ICSS members for service to social studies education. Nominees are judged by the ICSS Board of Directors on the following criteria:
1. There must be tangible evidence that exceptional contributions by the nominee toward social studies development are characterized by:
2. Nominees must be distinguished by their length of service to ICSS and their contributions toward the implementation of ICSS goals.
3. Nominations must include:
4. Nominations must indicate:
5. Additional supportive data may also be included.
Stan Harris was a Castle High School Government teacher and We the People sponsor in Newberg, Indiana. He led his classes to win We the People competitions eight times from 1989 to 2002, resulting in a resolution from the Indiana State House of Representatives being passed in his honor. Mr. Harris was known for his tenacity, his active citizenship and for passing along his love of democracy and the U.S. Constitution to students and teachers alike. He retired from Castle High School after 26 years of service. In retirement, he was State Coordinator for the We the People program. Mr. Harris taught for 31 years, 26 of which were at Castle High School in Evansville. He passed away unexpectedly in January, 2010, and this award honors his commitment to active citizenship is named in his honor.
STAN HARRIS CITIZEN'S AWARD
The Stan Harris Citizen's Award is made to groups or individuals in Indiana in recognition of service promoting social studies principles. Nominees are judged on the following criteria:
1. The outstanding service rendered by the nominee must focus on the promotion of social studies principles in a local community, region, or the state of Indiana. The spectrum of social studies principles implemented by the nominee can range from principles pertaining to tradition to principles pertaining to contemporary issues.
2. There must be some tangible evidence that the efforts of service of the nominee have had or are having an impact upon, or are effecting a change within, a local community, region, or the state of Indiana.
3. There must be evidence that the service rendered by the nominee is distinguished for its excellence and inherent qualities.
4. The nominee must have demonstrated consistent outstanding service in the promotion of social studies principles.
The nomination must:
Additional supportive data may be included.
Jane Lowrie Bacon was the Indiana State Social Studies Consultant from 1976 until 1981, as well as a former ICSS president. During the 1970s she oversaw the development of one of the first Social Studies Curriculum Guides in Indiana. This guide was considered by many to be one of the most comprehensive and useful up to that time. She also worked with James Becker of Indiana University on a groundbreaking global education project. After marrying geographer and textbook author Phil Bacon, whom she met at an NCSS conference, they moved to New Mexico and together continued to be active in their state social studies councils and geography alliance.
In Jane Lowrie Bacon’s honor, the Indiana Council for the Social Studies (ICSS) funds two grants of $300 each for use as seed money for teacher created or teacher developed classroom projects or research in the social studies. Grants will be awarded to individuals on the basis of the program's/research’s potential to improve social studies education in Indiana. All grant applications are judged by the ICSS Awards and Grants Committee and submitted for approval to the ICSS Board of Directors.
Half of the grant money is awarded at the ICSS State Convention. The remainder of the funds are awarded upon completion of the project/research. Proof of completion must be furnished to the ICSS Awards and Grants Committee.
JANE LOWRIE BACON TEACHER GRANT • DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15th
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
To be considered for the teacher grants, individuals must:
1. Be a member of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies
2. Be present at the ICSS convention to accept the award.
3. Provide tangible output to the ICSS Awards and Grants committee within one year of receipt of the grant (e.g. article, conference presentation).
4. Complete the Teacher Grant Application form, and
5. Submit a brief letter of support from the applicant's supervisor, principal, or department chairperson.