National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is pleased to welcome the West Virginia Social Studies Council for the Social Studies (WVCSS) back to its network of affiliated state, local, and regional social studies councils.

“After a decade hiatus, the West Virginia Council for the Social Studies is excited to be affiliated once again with NCSS and hopes to keep up our momentum from the affiliation process and work with NCSS to accomplish great things for social studies stakeholders in the Mountain State,” said Matthew D. Cox, WVCSS President.

The newly affiliated council began meeting independently three years ago. With an at-large member from each of West Virginia’s three congressional districts on its executive council, WVCSS increasingly reaches more classroom teachers in all areas of West Virginia, as evidenced by their growing annual conference. WVCSS membership represents K-12 educators at private and public schools, university faculty, members of the West Virginia Department of Education, and some private groups and citizens.

"In this day of cutbacks to public education, the West Virginia Council of the Social Studies is vital to ensuring that West Virginia's social studies educators are thoroughly trained and best equipped for engaging our twenty-first-century learners in all the disciplines of the social studies,” said Adena Barnette, at-large member of the West Virginia Second Congressional District in the WVCSS Executive Council, and added, “West Virginia has a rich tradition of social studies educators molding the future leaders of the state; through re-affiliation with the NCSS, we will continue this work, ensuring that the best and brightest days still lay ahead."

“We are excited to have a rejuvenated West Virginia Council in our affiliated network and look forward to working together to support social studies educators in their work to provide students with the content knowledge and critical thinking skills that will enable them to be effective in their college, career and civic life,” said Terry Cherry, President, NCSS.  

Affiliated Councils receive many benefits, including representation at the annual House of Delegates assembly during the NCSS Annual Conference; NCSS affiliation branding; promotion on the NCSS website and other communication channels as appropriate; access to electronic NCSS membership lists; invitation to an Affiliated Council Presidents Meeting at the NCSS Annual Conference; and registration for the President or designee to attend NCSS’ annual Summer Leadership Institute. Currently the NCSS affiliated council network is composed of 51 affiliated local, state, and regional councils.

“NCSS is delighted to welcome the West Virginia Council for the Social Studies back into our family of Affiliated Councils. We look forward to supporting their growth and helping them to build strong resources and connections for all social studies educators. Our NCSS leaders often bring state council leadership experience to us, so we anticipate welcoming many new dedicated leaders into our organization through the West Virginia council,” said Dr. Lawrence Paska, NCSS Executive Director.

Affiliation with National Council for the Social Studies is open to any group of individuals which has the same purpose and goals as NCSS. Any social studies council at the local, state, or regional level may affiliate directly with NCSS, provided that the general goals of the council are consistent with those of NCSS and provided that ten percent of its membership hold regular, comprehensive or student membership in NCSS. For more information on affiliating with NCSS, contact Victoria Nayiga, NCSS Member Engagement Program Manager, at victoria@ncss.org.