2021 award nominations

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:

• consistency of contributions
• the distinctive excellence and quality of contributions, and 
• the impact and effect that the contributions have had or are having upon social studies development.

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:

• nominee’s name
• school/work address, (principal’s name if applicable)
• home/cell phone number, 
• email address, 
• length of service through ICSS, and 
• the name, address, phone number, and email address of the person making the nomination.

4. Nominations must indicate:

• the exceptional contributions of the nominee toward social studies development,
• the consistency of exceptional contributions
• evidence of distinctive excellence and quality, and 
• evidence of the impact and effect on social studies development.

5. Additional supportive data may also 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.