Awards

Distinguished Teacher Award

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.

ICSS DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD • DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

1. The nominee must be a full-time teacher in Indiana. The nominee must be a member of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies.

2. The nominee must submit the required forms and supporting documents via email or U.S. Post by September 15th.

3. The nominee must have a current teaching license and be teaching that licensure area

4. In 250 words or less, the nominee must submit a reflective statement about his/her teaching experience.

5. Letters of recommendation from colleagues, supervisors, parents, or students should be submitted with the nominee's application.

In letters of recommendation, evidence should be provided of the teacher's strong command of the social studies and the ability to communicate this knowledge in ways that contribute to students' understanding and intellectual skills. The letters may address the following concerning the nominee:

1. Exceptional teaching abilities

2. Contributions and impact of nominee to student learning

3. Evidence of outstanding teaching and classroom quality

4. Evidence of contribution and dedication to improvement of social studies learning in the classroom.

Each letter of recommendation should be limited to two typed pages. In addition to letters of recommendation, supporting documentation of up to ten pages may be submitted.

NO MATERIALS WILL BE RETURNED.

Special Service Award

SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD • DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

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.

submit application

Stan Harris Citizen's Award

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 • DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

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:

include the individual's or group's name, address, occupation, title, and the name, address and phone number of the person making the nomination.
describe the outstanding service in promoting social studies education in Indiana (local, regional, or statewide),
give tangible evidence of the impact upon the change within the local community, region, or state (e.g. newspaper accounts, testimonials),
provide evidence that the service is distinguished for its excellence and its inherent qualities, and include examples of the consistency of outstanding service.

Additional supportive data may be included.

submit application

Jane Lowrie Bacon Teacher Grant

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: SEPTEMBER 15

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.

submit application

Dennis Beadles Pre-Service Teacher Award ~ Outstanding Future Social Studies Educator

This award recognizes and honors Dennis Beadles as a Social Studies Educator and member of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies Board of Directors. Dennis worked for the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation for 34 years, serving as a teacher, Department Head and Social Studies Supervisor. Dennis also taught Adult Basic Education night classes for 25 years. Dennis felt that teaching was a profession that never felt like work; it was a joy. Dennis was recognized as an outstanding student teacher, and spearheaded the effort to implement this ICSS award.

2020 ICSS Dennis Beadles Pre-Service Teacher Awards

Sierra Roberts

University of Indianapolis

Dakota Ebersold

University of Indianapolis

Beth Vander Hoek

University of Notre Dame

Madeleine Weedon

Taylor University

Mackenzie Taylor

Franklin College

Isaac Van Loh

Grace College

Natalie Bradshaw

Ball State University

Marcus Pruitt

Indiana University Kokomo

La Wanda Tidd

IUPUC

Cassidy Cox

Purdue University

Laura Duke

Purdue University

Kirk Odom

University of Southern Indiana

2020 award nominations

Distinguished Teacher Award

Special Service Award

Stan Harris Citizen's Award

Jane Lowrie Bacon Teacher Grant

Dennis Beadles Pre-Service Teacher Award ~ Outstanding Future Social Studies Educator