ADVISORY for 6:15 p.m. EST Fri. Nov. 13; 2:45 p.m. EST Sat. Nov. 14
SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 11 (AScribe Newswire) -- The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) named Elizabeth M. Devine, an American Studies teacher at William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, Ct. and Scott Auspelmyer, a Global Studies teacher at Blythewood High School in Blythewood, S.C., Outstanding Secondary Social Studies Teachers of the Year.
Devine and Auspelmyer will be honored at the 89th NCSS Annual Conference Nov. 13-15, in Atlanta, Ga. Each will receive a commemorative gift and a $3,000 award from co-sponsor National Geographic School Publishing at the Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Awards Reception held Friday, Nov. 13, at 6.15 p.m., at the Omni Hotel CNN Center, International Ballroom D.
This award is presented annually to recognize outstanding social studies teachers that demonstrate exceptional abilities in developing and using instructional material creatively and effectively; show that they incorporate innovative instructional strategies and techniques into their teaching; are able to demonstrate the ability to foster a spirit of inquiry; and encourage the development of democratic beliefs, values, and skills needed to become effective citizens. For more information, please visit: http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/teaching
Elizabeth Devine
A veteran high school social studies teacher, Devine helped design the American Studies interdisciplinary curriculum that she currently team teaches with a colleague from the English Department. In order to introduce visual arts to students and fine-tune student exhibition pieces for the spring art show, she and her teaching partner also work with an art teacher. In her classes students discuss the larger themes of history and politics, analyze primary source materials and benefit from careful exposure to both sides of any issue presented. Passionate about nurturing student activism in the community, she has incorporated an action project into her senior elective course on Human Rights that seeks to inspire young people to gather information and become active in advocating for change.
"In her teaching, Mrs. Devine uses a cultural studies approach wherein inquiry is considered from a variety of points of view. Problems posed are meaningful and relevant. The result is authentic student engagement," said Karen L. List, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, West Hartford Public Schools. Donald J. Slater, Principal of Hall High School said school principal concurs, "Liz does not simply teach social studies, she explains it in terms of its impact on how we live."
At the NCSS Annual Conference, Devine will convey why she deems human rights education to be vital in developing the next generation of citizens in the global community and will share her exceptional teaching strategies in implementing a human rights semester curriculum that includes the development of student action projects at a session that will be held Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2:45 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center, room A315.
Devine is thought of as a leader by district peers. She has mentored many of the new teachers that have arrived at Hall High School and serves on the District Improvement Planning Committee. In 2008 she was selected New England History Teacher Association Kidger Award for Excellence in Social Studies, and in 2000 her peers selected her West Hartford Teacher of the Year. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Niagara University, N.Y. and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y.
Scott Auspelmyer
A national board certified teacher in social studies since 2007, Auspelmyer has been teaching high school social studies since 2000. Currently he teaches Advanced Placement European History, Global Studies II, Honors Forum Advanced Seminar, and is the Lead teacher of the Honors Forum of Blythewood High School - providing support and guidance to faculty teaching Advanced Placement and Honor courses. One particular focus of Auspelmyer's teaching is designing lessons for his students that center around developing essential skills, reading, writing, mathematics, visual arts interpretation, researching techniques, and other skills necessary for success in all subject areas, not just in social studies. His goal: to build upon and stretch student's knowledge strengths while attempting to remedy their weaknesses.
"Scott is the type of teacher that all parents hope to have come into the life of their children. Not only will he instill the facts that they need to be successful in the classroom, but he also teaches the traits that his students naturally adopt to become successful members of society," said Keith Price, Principal of Blythewood High School.
At the NCSS Annual Conference, Auspelmyer will demonstrate the difference between engaging in service learning vs. simply participating in service projects by sharing the process through which his high school inadvertently became one of the top 10 schools in the nation for raising awareness of the genocide in Darfur. His session, "Saving Darfur: a Case Study in Developing Social Capital in Schools," will be held Saturday, Nov. 14 at 4:00 p.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center, room A315.
Auspelmyer received the 2008 South Carolina High School Teacher of the Year and Blythewood High School's Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008, among other honors. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History, Cum Laude from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., and a Masters of Education in Secondary Education from University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.
Founded in 1921, the National Council for the Social Studies has grown into the largest association in the country for social studies professionals, with 20,000 members in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries. Membership includes K - 16 classroom teachers, curriculum supervisors and specialists, curriculum writers and designers, and teacher educators. The NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for K - 16 teachers of civics, history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology and law-related education. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.
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CONTACT: Ana Post, NCSS Communications, 301-588-1800 x114,
571-232-7213, apost@ncss.org
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