December 5, 2022

Silver Spring, MD -- National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Kaur Foundation are proud to announce three new annual awards to honor social studies teaching and leadership excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The Cultural Literacy Award will recognize a teacher or administrator for their contribution to increasing knowledge of distinct cultural practices and identities, inclusive of the Sikhs, such that students from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate in classrooms and school activities. The Religious Literacy Award will recognize a teacher or administrator for their efforts to integrate knowledge of diverse faith traditions, inclusive of the Sikh tradition, into courses or curricula at their school or designed pedagogy with values of respect, and social justice that acknowledge and respect students’ religious practices. These awards each include a $1,500 prize. The DEI Instructional Innovation Award will recognize a teacher, administrator or an institution that has developed and taught a modified course, revised curricula, or created equity and inclusion tools to support inclusiveness resulting in changes of demonstrated or measurable impact in classrooms and schools. This award includes a $2,500 prize.

All three awards are designed to recognize the contributions of outstanding educators and administrators who build safe and welcoming classrooms and communities to safeguard civil rights and promote excellence in education empowering all. These awards were previously given exclusively by the Kaur Foundation. At a special reception sponsored by the Kaur Foundation during the 102nd NCSS Annual Conference in Philadelphia, the transition of these awards to become co-sponsored with NCSS was made official. It is anticipated that each award will now have a wider reach and impact through the NCSS membership community.

“NCSS is always looking for opportunities to honor excellence within our profession, and this partnership will allow us to expand recognition to cultural literacy and religious literacy, two areas that we do not currently have an opportunity to honor,” said Dr. Shannon Pugh, 2022-23 president of NCSS.
“NCSS is honored to partner with the Kaur Foundation in uplifting and supporting best and promising practices that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across all social studies disciplines,” said Dr. Lawrence Paska, executive director of NCSS. “We believe these awards further our goal to raise and celebrate all voices who work hard every day to create a solid social studies foundation in every classroom.”

"As our communities grow ever more diverse, understanding the different backgrounds of our students, colleagues, neighbors and friends is vital,” said Reshma Singh, president of the Kaur Foundation. “We welcome our partnership with NCSS, to integrate diverse voices - inclusive of Sikhs, and provide opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills critical to live and work in a culturally and religiously democratic society, valuing inclusion of all."

"The Kaur Foundation is honored and excited to partner with NCSS in inaugurating the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards which recognize the work of outstanding educators, administrators and institutions to promote inclusion by powering cultural and religious literacy in their classrooms and schools," said Mirin Phool, founding director of the Kaur Foundation. “We know that success in this work is only possible through collaboration with visionary ground-breaking thought leaders, policy architects, and supportive community. We recognize NCSS's dedication in creating pathways that build a promising future for all."

Nominations for the DEI awards open in Spring 2023. The first co-sponsored awards are scheduled to be given at the 103rd NCSS Annual Conference in Nashville, TN, in December 2023.

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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.

For media inquiries, contact:

Joy D. Lindsey
Deputy Executive Director
jlindsey@ncss.org
301-850-7458