Outstanding Teacher Awards

The Outstanding Teacher Awards honor one elementary, one middle or junior high, and one high school teacher for:

• outstanding teaching
• contribution to the advancement of social studies education within the school and community
• and active participation in local, state, and national social studies councils.

Download the 2008 Application    Award Guidelines

The NOVA Award

The NOVA Award is designated for teachers who have completed their first year as a classroom teacher and are currently teaching in their second or third year. This award, regardless of level (elementary, middle/junior, and high school), is to honor the outstanding new teacher who contributes to the advancement of social studies education within the school and community. Download the 2008 Application  Award Guidelines

Billy Sills Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award will honor a TCSS member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the organization and exemplifies the professional social studies educator.

Application Criteria:
• Typed nomination packet consisting of requested documentation, postmarked by May 15.  (Send 8 copies of packet)
• Current TCSS member
• Five years continuous service to the state organization

Download the 2008 Application    Award Guidelines

Stalwart Mini-Grants

The TCSS Stalwart Mini-Grants are intended for continuing education in social studies. Up to four (4) $500 teacher mini-grants will be awarded each year. One will be awarded in memory of Jean Lantz. The funds may be used to purchase curriculum materials to be used in the classroom and/or to cover training/conference expenses not covered by other sources. Applicants must be a member of TCSS for the past two years followed by submitting a lesson/article to The Texan, or by leading a professional development session at the Fall TCSS Conference or district training.

TCSS Student Scholarship

The TCSS Student Scholarships are two $2000 awards for graduating high school or college students intent on a career teaching social studies. In order to qualify for the scholarship, applicants’ major field of study must be related to social studies education.

NCSS Awards

Since 1983, National Council for the Social Studies has annually honored the outstanding performance of teachers and encouraged unique and innovative social studies education projects through its award programs.

2008 Preserve America AWARD

Sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America announce the fifth annual Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award, which honors outstanding teachers of American history across the country. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, founded in 1994, promotes the study and love of American history. Increasingly national and international in scope, the Institute's programs and initiatives serve audiences ranging from students to scholars to the general public. Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve America’s cultural and natural heritage.

The History Teacher of the Year Award, under the rubric of Preserve America, recognizes outstanding American history teachers from elementary school through high school, and the crucial importance of American history education. Finalists are selected from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. Territories. From these local winners, a national honoree is recognized as the National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year.

CONGRATULATIONS 2007 AWARD WINNERS

Shown in photo are TCSS members recognized at the 55th annual fall conference in El Paso. From left to right: Dr. Rosemary Morrow, Director of Social Studies, Texas Education Agency, named this year's recipient of the Billy Sills Distinguished Service Award; Heidi Boles, Weatherford ISD, Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year; Leah Donnow, Clear Creek ISD, Outstanding Middle School Teacher of the Year; Dawn McGuffin Nixon, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year; and Allen Roberds, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Nova Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to all those receiving special recognition at the annual Jean Lantz Awards Luncheon, held on October 22, 2007.