DENNIS BEADLES OUTSTANDING

FUTURE EDUCATOR AWARD

The Dennis Beadles Outstanding Future Educator Award is a prestigious recognition given to a student who shows exceptional promise and dedication in the field of education. This award, named after the renowned educator Dennis Beadles, recognizes the hard work and commitment of future educators who strive to make a positive impact on the lives of students. The recipient of this award has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership skills, and a passion for teaching. This award is a great honor and serves as a testament to the recipient’s commitment to excellence in education. It not only acknowledges the recipient’s achievements but also inspires and motivates other aspiring educators to follow in their footsteps. The Dennis Beadles Outstanding Future Educator Award is a recognition that sets the standard for excellence in the field of education.

Award winners are recognized at the ICSS Conference and receive a year of free membership

Nominations are Due: June 1st


STAN HARRIS CITIZEN’S AWARD

The prestigious Stan Harris Citizen’s Award is presented to groups or individuals within Indiana who have exhibited a strong commitment and dedication to furthering social studies principles. This award seeks to acknowledge the relentless efforts of those who passionately engage their communities, whether locally, regionally, or throughout the State of Indiana, to promote the understanding and application of these principles.

Nominees for this accolade are evaluated on a comprehensive set of criteria, which includes:

  • Scope of Service: The nominee’s service should primarily focus on advancing social studies principles within a local community, a specific region, or the entirety of Indiana. The breadth of principles championed by the nominee can span traditional values to contemporary societal concerns.
  • Tangible Impact: There needs to be clear and measurable evidence indicating that the nominee’s service endeavors have made a significant impact. This could be in the form of community improvement, transformative changes, or heightened awareness and education about social studies principles in the respective community, region, or state.
  • Quality of Service: The service provided by the nominee should not only be impactful but also exemplify excellence. It should stand out for its dedication, commitment, innovation, and the inherent value it brings to the community or region.
  • Consistency: A pivotal criterion is the demonstration of consistent and unwavering service in the promotion of social studies principles. The nominee should have a track record of continually championing these principles, showing dedication over time rather than in isolated instances.

The Stan Harris Citizen’s Award is not just an acknowledgment but a celebration of those who tirelessly work to ensure that the essence of social studies principles is woven into the fabric of Indiana’s communities.

Norminations are Due: November 1st


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.

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.

Deadline to Apply: November 1st


DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD

Every year, the Indiana Council for the Social Studies celebrates the unparalleled dedication of educators who have shaped minds, touched hearts, and kindled a passion for social studies. The Distinguished Teacher Award, presented at the State conference, stands as a testament to educators whose teaching practices have consistently reflected excellence, be it in elementary or secondary social studies classrooms.

This esteemed accolade will be conferred upon two deserving educators. Each recipient will not only be publicly acknowledged for their outstanding contributions but will also receive a commemorative plaque, a grant of $100, and complimentary registration to the conference. This award serves as a beacon of gratitude, recognizing the myriad educators who play a pivotal role in shaping the futures of Indiana’s young minds.

Eligibility and Application Requirements:

  1. Teaching Status: The nominee should be actively teaching as a full-time educator in Indiana.
  2. Membership: The nominee must be a proud member of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies.
  3. Licensure: It’s essential for the nominee to possess a current teaching license and actively be teaching within their licensed area.
  4. Reflective Statement: A narrative, not exceeding 250 words, where the nominee introspects and shares insights from their teaching journey, encapsulating their experiences, challenges, triumphs, and philosophy.
  5. Recommendation Letters: The application should be supplemented with letters of recommendation. These can be penned by colleagues, educational supervisors, parents, or even students who’ve been directly influenced by the nominee’s teaching prowess.

We urge everyone – peers, parents, supervisors, and students – to seize this opportunity. Nominate a teacher who, in your eyes, has gone above and beyond, and let’s together celebrate the phenomenal individuals who sculpt Indiana’s educational landscape.

Nominations are Due: November 1st