National Council for the Social Studies is pleased to announce that Anton Schulzki, social studies teacher at General William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, begins a one-year term as President of the NCSS Board of Directors on July 1, 2021.

Shannon Pugh, the Director of Community and Schools Programming for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Maryland, begins a one-year term as President-Elect. Wesley Hedgepeth, a Politics and History Teacher at Collegiate School in Henrico County, Virginia, begins a one-year term as Vice President, and is in line to be President beginning July 2023. Stefanie Wager, a Senior Technical Assistance Consultant in Social Studies for the American Institutes for Research, assumes the role of Past-President.

Chanda Robinson, the CEO and Founder of Chanda Robinson Consulting, LLC, begins her second consecutive term on the NCSS Board of Directors. Joining the Board of Directors for their first terms are Meridith Breen, a social studies teacher in York County, Virginia; Kimberly Huffman, an American Government, Personal Finance, and CCP Political Science Instructor in Wayne County, Ohio; and Joe Schmidt, a social studies specialist for the Maine Department of Education. 2021 NCSS House of Delegates Steering Committee Chair Carla Powell, a teacher at Scotlanvile Magnet High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will serve a one-year term as an ex-officio member of the board.

Anton Schulzki has been a teacher with District 11 in Colorado Springs since 1983, and has served as department chair, as well as on numerous committees at the district, state, and national levels. Schulzki has been active in NCSS since 2001 as a conference presenter, a House of Delegates representative for the Canada Community, and House of Delegates’ Steering Committee member and 2010 Steering Committee chair. Schulzki served on the NCSS Board of Directors in 2010 in his role as steering committee chair and served 2013-2016 as an elected board member. Schulzki recently completed a term as president of the Colorado Council for the Social Studies.

“Social studies teachers have witnessed so many challenges in the last few years, from the marginalization of social studies, to a global pandemic, and now to an increasing politicization of the content we teach. When we are faced with these challenges - professionalism, dedication, and commitment to our students are the attributes that define the members of the National Council for the Social Studies. As I follow in the footsteps of giants that have held the position of president of our organization - I am humbled and awed by our members. I know that as the 2021-22 school year approaches far too soon - our members will show the solidarity that binds us together, despite those obstacles before us. We have had our fair share of challenges - but I am confident that together we will support each other, bring our collective voices to difficult subjects, and always place our students at the forefront of what we do in the classroom. I hope to see many of you at the 101st Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Nov. 19-21, 2021 with the theme Solidarity in Social Studies,” said NCSS President Anton Schulzki.

NCSS Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Paska said, "Congratulations to our new and continuing Board members for your leadership, service, and support to our social studies and education communities. Thank you for your dedication to NCSS as we continue our Centennial Celebration. I look forward to embarking on a most special year ahead together."

Full information on the NCSS Board of Directors can be found at https://www.socialstudies.org/about.

Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 35 countries, NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college teachers of history, civics, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education. The NCSS membership represents K-12 classroom teachers, college and university faculty members, curriculum designers and specialists, social studies supervisors, and leaders in the various disciplines that constitute the social studies.

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Joy Lindsey
Director of Marketing, Communications and Membership
jlindsey@ncss.org
301-850-7458