Take a moment and reflect on professional development events you have attended, and ask yourself, how many of them were “really” good,  meaningful, effective, and relevant to your chosen profession? As educators, we attend several types of training, many of which are mandatory, or are recommended from our superiors. Occasionally, we get lucky and can select a specific training we deem valuable, but those may be few and far between.

This year at NCSS (National Council for the Social Studies), we went around asking one question to attendees—"Why do you love social studies?" 

Iowa social studies professionals know how to model informed action.

There couldn’t be a more meaningful time to recognize the work of Lori Wenzinger (center), recipient of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Teaching Award of Excellence.