Awards
The annual TCSS Social Studies Teacher of the Year Awards recognize exceptional Tennessee classroom Social Studies teachers in the areas of Elementary (grades K-6), Middle (grades 5-8), Secondary (grades 7-12), and Civil Rights/Civil Liberties (grades K-12).
Award winners will receive free registration for the TCSS State Conference and a complimentary one-year membership in TCSS. Each award winner will be honored with a plaque and cash prize.
2022 Winners
Elementary
Level TOY
Middle
Level TOY
Secondary
Level TOY
Civil Rights & Liberties Excellence in Teaching
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Shaina West
Chapel Hill Elementary
Chapel Hill, TN
Brittany Ann Taylor
Rockvale MS
Rockvale, TN
Dusty Helton
Pigeon Forge HS Pigeon Forge, TN
Brandon O'Neill
Fulton HS
Knoxville, TN
Eligibility
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Nominations will be accepted from anyone, including self-nominations.
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A nominee must be a Social Studies teacher for grades K-6 (Elementary Level), 5-8 (Middle Level), or 7-12 (Secondary Level) who teaches social studies regularly and systematically in elementary settings, or at least half time in middle/junior high and high school settings.
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A nominee cannot be nominated for the award in more than one category (for example a teacher may not be nominated for both a junior high/middle school award and a secondary award).
Elementary, Middle, & Secondary Level Requirements
Submit via the link above or email to Patsy Brooks at pkcbrooks@aol.com
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Biographical Sketch (not to exceed 1 page)
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Letters of Support:
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A letter on letterhead from your immediate supervisor with performance responsibility.
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A letter on letterhead from a professional colleague (a teacher in your building, a professor, or district supervisor).
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A letter from a student or a parent of a student.
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Vita or Professional Resume (not to exceed 2 pages)
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List current teaching assignment, education, professional work history, school related activities, responsibilities, organizations, leadership roles, membership in professional organizations, awards/grants/other honors, presentations and/or publications.
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Applicant/Nominee Lesson Plan (not to exceed 3 pages)
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Applicant Narrative describing how applicant/nominee demonstrates exceptional abilities in at least four of the five categories listed below (not to exceed 4 pages).
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Develop or use instructional materials creatively and effectively.
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Incorporate Tennessee Social Studies Standards and Literacy Standards in the Social Studies.
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Utilize new scholarship from history, the social sciences, or other appropriate fields.
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Demonstrated ability to foster a spirit of inquiry and the development of skills related to acquiring, organizing, processing, and using information and making decisions related to both domestic and international matters.
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Demonstrated ability to foster the development of democratic beliefs and values, and the skills needed for citizen participation and civic responsibility appropriate to students' grade level in classroom, school, and community settings.
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Criteria for selection will be evaluated by the following indicators:
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Excellence in the areas of classroom instruction, creativity, knowledge of students (developmental and cultural relevance),
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Social studies content knowledge,
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Leadership in the teaching profession, and
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Professional development.
Social Studies School Service
Civil Rights/Liberties Teaching Excellence Requirements
The Social Studies School Service Civil Rights/ Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes and honors the accomplishments of a social studies teacher in the area of Civil Rights/Civil Liberties. Nominees inspire students to be fully informed about their Civil Rights and Civil Liberties assured by the Constitution. This teacher is someone who inspires students to take informed action when they see injustices and to be responsible, contributing members of our democracy. This award captivates the teaching spirit of Ida B. Wells-Barnette, James Lawson, Diane Nash, John Lewis and others; and also serves to honor a teacher who is striving to continue his or her work advancing civil rights and civil liberties. The recipient will be recognized at the luncheon during the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference.
Award: $200 and a plaque
Application Deadline: Monday, January 20, 2025
Submit via the link above or email to Patsy Brooks at pkcbrooks@aol.com
Eligibility:
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Current K-12 teacher with minimum of 3 years teaching experience
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Elementary teacher: must be currently teaching Social Studies
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Secondary teacher: must teach Social Studies for the majority of the day
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Will continue to teach (K-12) for a minimum of one year after receiving the award
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Be employed and in good standing by a school district or private school
Criteria:
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The K-12 educator has made a significant effort to teach the concept of justice in a creative, inspiring way. This might include, but not be limited to, teaching about civil liberties, human rights, international justice, the Holocaust, genocide studies, and local issues of justice.
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Nominees may design a special lesson, course of study, create a school or district project, or lead their students in some way to promote civil rights or civil liberties.
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Close attention will be focused on applicants who possess the ability to expose injustice while at the same time inspiring their students to improve the world through justice, service or advocacy.
Nomination Requirements:
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Anyone may nominate an applicant, including self-nominations.
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At least one letter supporting the nomination must be submitted (for self-nominations, there must be an accompanying letter of recommendation from another source).
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It should be noted that the award is not designated as a “lifetime achievement award”, but one that recognizes great teaching by any nominee with a minimum of three years’ experience.
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Deadline for completed applications is January 20, 2025.
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