Staff Report to NCSS House of Delegates

November 2006

By the time we meet for the annual conference, NCSS will be almost at the halfway point of its fiscal year--a good time to review the overall health of the organization and to review of specific activities summer through fall. In doing so, there are a couple of general observations we can make.

First, membership continues to be a challenge and one that we will need to work on thoroughly and deliberately. As you see reviewing the membership statistics, we are still losing members in the institutional and individual comprehensive categories but are gaining individual regular members. We believe this lower priced membership category will continue to see growth and we recognize the implication of that reality for our bottom line: we will need to recruit larger numbers of regular members as well as continue to cultivate student and first-year member categories. The results of the summer and fall direct-mail campaigns attest to this perspective as we continue our practice of careful analysis of results and creative thinking on new approaches to membership marketing.

Second, although we had a successful Kansas City Conference, and received a very generous contribution of $77,132 from the estate of Jean Claugus, former NCSS president, those were not enough for us to end the year in the black. As you will understand from the auditor, there are also issues related to reclassification of revenue categories and marketing expenses that contributed to the FY06 bottom line. Those of you who are continuing members of the board will recall that last year's audit was a long, challenging process affected by the departure of Arthur Ganta, Paul's predecessor, and a three month interval between finance directors. This year, the process went much better, but Calibre continued to find places in our financial reporting systems that needed correction. I encourage you to question Derrick Strosnider and Paul for coherent explanations of those adjustments.

All of that to say, this year is off to a very promising start related to membership and conference revenue and a robust level of activity.

There was an announcement of a new position at Summer Leadership Institute: Ana Post became the Director of External Relations and Council Communications. This new position combines Al Frascella's responsibilities with the press and liaison with Washington Partners, including keeping affiliates informed about activities at the federal level, as well as communicating among the affiliates about important issues within the NCSS network. Ana will continue to connect with organizations interested in collaborating with NCSS and supervise recognition programs and special projects. That transition will take some time, and the department will take shape through the rest of the fiscal year.

This brings us to bittersweet news. Mildred McBee ("Peaches") is retiring after twenty-seven years of service to NCSS! We are so grateful for what Peaches brought to each of us personally and professionally. We all wish her the happiest and healthiest of retirements in Georgia where her family is now installed in a lovely new home, waiting for the boss to arrive!

At the beginning of November, Prema Parmar joined the NCSS staff as program assistant in the first week of November. Prema has a BA in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Her previous work experience makes her an excellent addition to the External Relations & Council Services Department, which handles Recognition Programs and Grants, Information Services, Council Services and External Relations.

In October, Angel Robertson was hired as receptionist and membership assistant, replacing Sharlon Buchanan who left NCSS in September after 5 years with NCSS.

Goal A. Education/Knowledge

In July, NCSS conducted two remarkable summer workshops: Reading Strategies to Unlock the Social Studies at Goucher College, convened by President Peggy Altoff; and Save Our History at the National Archives, convened by Mary McFarland? with help from the National Archives, National Park Service, and the History Channel. Both workshops were very well received.

Also during the summer, Association of Educational Publishers (also known as EdPress?) honored the September 2005 issue of Middle Level Learning as one of the four best commemorative educational publications of 2005, The issue focused on the historic role of Philip Reid, an enslaved black man, in the construction of the Statue of Freedom, which stands at the top of the dome of the Capitol.

In July, Linda Bennett assumed the duties of editor of Social Studies and the Young Learner, succeeding Sherry Field, who had held that position for ten years. Linda published her first issues as editor in September/October 2006. Its special theme was "Children's Voices for Democracy," and it examined the challenges of educating elementary students in democratic ideals and practices. Several leading NCSS elementary educators were among the contributors. Linda's second issue, published in November/December, focuses on the culturally conscientious classroom, advising teachers on how to communicate effectively with children from different cultures, and how to make informed decisions about content and lesson plans dealing with diverse individuals and groups in history and in contemporary society.

The back-to-school issue of Social Education (September 2006) had special features on teaching about the Constitution, and on the 300 million population mark that was reached in October of this year. Accompanying it was the fall issue of Middle Level Learning, which was devoted to an examination of the human side of World War II. The other two fall issues of Social Education covered a wide variety of social studies topics. The October issue contained a number of articles on using primary documents to teach history and offered coverage of the upcoming Congressional elections and Supreme Court cases. The November-December issue offers articles on subjects ranging from maps and map learning to the first Thanksgiving, Japanese textbooks on World War II and the policy alternatives confronting the U.S. in Iraq. The fall issues of Social Education have also launched a discussion of the role of social studies, starting in September with an article by Ron Evans on the subject and a report by Jim Leming, Lucien Ellington and Mark Schug on a recent survey they conducted of social studies teachers in grades 2, 5, and 8, and continuing in November-December with reflections by Ron Levitsky.

Since the last board meeting, NCSS has published a bulletin titled Teaching about Canada and Mexico, edited by William W. Joyce and John F. Bratzel. The bulletin provides information on the history, society, culture, economy and political system of each of the neighbors of the United States. NCSS comprehensive members will soon receive another bulletin, edited by Linda Bennett and Michael Berson, which presents lesson plans based on instructional technology across the range of social studies topics. The volume has been designed to include plans and activities useful to each of the elementary, middle and high school sets of grade levels.

To help increase awareness and sales of our PASS (Powerful and Authentic Social Studies) sets of teaching videos and manuals, NCSS has established a new professional development service that will seek contracts from state education departments and school districts to offer professional development workshops based on PASS across the country. The service is headed by Joe Braun and also includes four other professional development specialists--Denee Mattioli, Susie Burroughs, David Hales and Joe Gotchy. In June, NCSS published a detailed brochure describing the PASS program and the professional development service. We plan to market the service both within and outside NCSS; in July, we promoted it in an exhibit at the summer meeting of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC), and we will soon do so again with an exhibit at the annual NSDC meeting in Nashville in December.

Goal C. Membership

The membership picture is mixed. Regular individual membership continues to increase, while other categories show decreases, especially in comprehensive categories.

Since May 2006, 2,392 members used the online membership service portal: 1,675 persons joined online, and 618 renewed their membership. In addition, 537 members joined through conference registration and another 361 members joined through their state or local council.

Marketing

In order to make the most of our marketing dollars, we decided this year to do two major acquisition mailings, and three mailings to lapsed members. Summer mailings do considerably better than our fall mailing, but doing both helps increase our membership base and revenue. In the July mailing, we mailed to the best lists from last summer's mailing, plus tested good responding lists from the fall mailings, and our state council lists. Thus far, our summer mailing has generated 751 new members as of October 31, 2006. This is 204 members above the 547 projected for this mailing.

• 664 (88%) are Teachers
• 262 (39%) joined as Regular Members
• 402 (61%) joined as Comprehensive Members

The response to the state council lists is very impressive. We hope this information will help encourage states to provide lists to NCSS for future mailings.

State Council List	Response Rate
Georgia	2.73%
Maryland	2.30%
South Carolina	1.70%
Colorado	1.34%
Pennsylvania	.88%
Illinois	.63%
California (04)	.52%
California (05)	.51%

The incentive for prospects to join NCSS included three premiums: A 30 minute DVD on the Power of Maps titled "Many Ways to See the World"; Three years of the popular series Teaching with Documents on an easy-to use CD, and the popular 2005 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People.(Members only benefit).

Summer Rollout Comparisons-'01,'02,'03,'04,'05and '06

Mailing		Time	Response Rate
Summer '01 mailing	Rollout #1	After 3.6 months	Response Rate .54%
Summer '02 mailing	Rollout #4	After 3.7 months	Response Rate .34%
Summer '03 mailing	Rollout #6	After 3.8 months	Response Rate .49%
Summer '04 mailing	Rollout #8	After 3.9 months	Response Rate .58%
Summer '05 mailing	Rollout10	After 3.9 months	Response Rate .34 %
Summer '06 mailing	Rollout 11	After 3.9 months	Response Rate .58%

Current membership statistics are appended to this report.

Assistance to Affiliated Councils

In response to requests from affiliated councils , NCSS is testing a program to host council websites. Under this program, NCSS will provide hosting and the initial set-up of the website, as well as technical support. Councils will be responsible for the upkeep of the content of the website. Tennessee Council for the Social Studies was the first council to "go live" on the new system in October at www.tncss.org. Tim Daly will be contact the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies this month, and other state councils after the annual conference.

NCSS is also investigating the feasibility of using an open source "customer relationship management" program which can be integrated with the council websites to allow councils to track membership and conference registration data, as well as take payments online.

Execellence/Citizenship

NCSS Annual Conference

Registration

When registration opens in late summer, it is generally off to a slow start; this year was no exception. It remained fairly steady until mid-October, gaining momentum right into the October 30th deadline. We extended advance registration until November 6th and on-line registration remained open until November 17th. With the advance website technology, the meetings department did not have to manually process all of the on-line registrations. This significantly reduced staff hours that in prior years created a backlog in the entire registration procedure. This year approximately 60% of the registrations came in through the website. The attached report will reflect the registration number of 3,472, which was 30% ahead of the same time last year.

Tours

Four of the initial 9 tour offerings were closed in early November due to low enrollment. There will be 3 busloads full of the Monuments by Moonlight tour, which was, by far, the most popular tour. Members of the International Activities committee coordinated the Embassy Tour and the Bill of Rights Institute offered the Mt. Vernon tour.

Clinics

We started registration with 28 clinics and an additional 4 were added in the months following. When registration closed, only 10 of those 32 clinics managed to make it on the final program. Clinic chairs and registrants were notified of the cancellations and presented with choices from the remaining clinics. Many of the registrants choose other clinics or tours, so not as much money will be refunded after the conference. It is recommended for future years that the clinic offerings remain low; too many choices can lead to low enrollment numbers, thus canceling the clinic.

Exhibits

Additional, unbudgeted, income was gained by exhibitor registration and attendee mailing label sales. We contracted with MGI Lists as a list broker to market and sell the attendee pre- and post- registration list to exhibitors and other vendors.

NCATE

Robert Toepper, NCSS/NCATE Program Review Coordinator, resigned in June after serving in that position for three years. A variety of issues contributed to his decision but there were three key factors influencing his decision.

First, NCATE streamlined the reporting system in order to create more agreement across disciplines, encourage cross campus coordination of the NCATE review process as well as increase understanding and expertise about data collection. Bob's training and participation in NCATE reviews was under Chuck Myers's tutelage and he adjusted quite well to the new framework on some levels but did not necessarily agree with the shifts required under the new system. Second, NCATE simultaneously changed from a paper review process to an on-line review process and hoped to have had that shift completed in the course two review cycles or one year. Two computer companies later, the process is still in transition. Third, NCATE began coordinating the assignment of reviewers to the programs, a job that the Specialty Area (SPA's) organizations had done previously. Although the SPA's insisted on establishing their own audit committees to provide final review prior to decisions being made, most of the assignment and follow-up with reviewers shifted to NCATE staff. NCATE severely underestimated the amount of work and complexity involved in both the technology and volunteer coordination involved in these two transitions.

NCSS is very fortunate to have Alberta Dougan, our representative on the NCATE Specialty Area Studies Board, a member of our NCATE audit team, and the person at Southeast Missouri State University in charge of their last NCATE review, willing to step into that position. Alberta and I have already discussed key issues related to the partnership: working with NCATE to strengthen and expand our reviewer and audit teams, alerting NCATE of scheduling problems before they become serious, and keeping up the pressure to address the technology and coordination weaknesses. Alberta is also analyzing the NCSS review process to see if there may be further streamlining, keeping the standards intact, but making reporting more straightforward for institutions. She will have a proposal for review at this meeting.

Recognition Programs

In an effort to increase awareness about NCSS Award and Grant Programs among affiliates, a booklet with the guidelines and criteria, as well as application/nomination submission due dates was disseminated at the NCSS Summer Leadership Institute in July 2006. At this time we have published in the NCSS newsletter, The Social Studies Professional, the call for nominations and applications for the 2007 awards and grants. It is hoped that by disseminating the call for applications and nominations early that teachers and other social studies professionals wishing to participate will be able to have more time to prepare their application/nomination materials. 2007 award and grant program guidelines and criteria will also be disseminated at the NCSS Arena in the exhibit hall.

The following is a list of Recognition Programs Sponsors and the items that they sponsor. If you come across them in the Exhibit Hall, please be sure to thank them for their support:

• USA Today_NCSS Awards Reception ($5,000)
• Farmers Insurance_Teacher of the Year Awards Reception ($5,000)
• Farmers Insurance_Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year (3 year commitment at $2,500 per year)
• Farmers Insurance_Also underwrites The American Promise program materials and education outreach (about $100,000 per year).
• McDougal Littell_Outstanding Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year (two awards at $2,500 each, a three year commitment that began last year).
• Scholastic, Inc/Junior Scholastic_Outstanding Middle Level Teacher of the Year (1 award at $2,500)
• Nystrom - Herff Jones Education Division_Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy. They are replacing The George F. Cram Company ($2,500 per year).
• The Longview Foundation_Award for Global Understanding given in honor of James Becker ($3,000 annually for 3 years).

This year there will be two special receptions to honor NCSS award and grant winners:

• The Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Awards Reception sponsored by Farmers Insurance on Friday, December 1, Washington Convention Center, Room 145B starting at 6:00 p.m.; and
• The NCSS Awards Reception, sponsored by USA Today on Saturday, December 2, Renaissance Hotel, Room 12, starting at 5:30 p.m.

If your schedule allows it, we would love to see you at either or both events.

The following are this year's NCSS Award and Grant winners. Most will be presenting a session during the conference. Please check pages 17-22 of your conference program for any updates. You and your colleagues are invited to attend.

Outstanding Service Award

Sari J. Bennett, Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Bennett, a long-time member of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Maryland Council for the Social Studies, has made numerous contributions to the social studies profession at the local, state and national levels. She has been a member of Maryland Council for the Social Studies (MDCSS) for more than 20 years and has served as its President and Executive Director. At the state level, Dr. Bennett has served on numerous committees including the Social Studies Taskforce of the Maryland State Department of Education, the development of social studies content standards and the Voluntary State Curriculum. Dr. Bennett is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and is the coordinator of the Maryland Geographic Alliance. She is known not only as a geography advocate but also as the voice of reason within the Maryland social studies community. Her success and dependability have led her being chosen three times as program co-chair for the NCSS Annual Conference.

Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year - Elementary Level

Fran H. Squires, Pine View School, Osprey, Florida

• Exploring the Past, Examining the Present, Energizing the Future of Social Studies
  • Friday, December 1, 10:30 -11:30 am, Convention Center, 147B

Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year - Middle Level

Dee Krause, Hillside Middle School, Northville, Michigan

• Utilizing a Mock Trial Format to Stimulate Interest in Global Issues
  • Saturday, December 2, 8:00_9:00 am, Convention Center, 141

Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year - Secondary Level (2 winners)

India Meissel, Lakeland High School, Suffolk, Virginia

• Oral History: Tell Me Your Story
  • Friday, December 1, 3:30_4:30 pm, Convention Center, 102B

Christian Sawyer, Hillsboro High School, Nashville, Tennessee

• Developing the Geographic Perspective through Active Learning
  • Friday, December 1, 3:30_4:30 pm, Convention Center, 208A

2006 Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award Recipient

Jason Shipper, Adam Jones, Dr. Emory Helms, and Dr. Austin Hitt, Coastal Carolina University & Horry County Museum

• Award-winning proposal: "Native American History in a Box"

These award recipients will present on their project at the 2007 NCSS Conference.

2006 Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy

Reese H. Todd, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

• Grant-winning proposal: Teaching Partners Promote Geography in Rural Elementary School

This grant recipient will present on his project at the 2007 NCSS Conference.

2005 Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy

Gale Olp Ekiss, The Arizona Geographic Alliance, Tempe, Arizona

• Real World Applications: GeoMath for the K-8 Classroom
  • Saturday, December 2, 8:00_9:00 am, Convention Center, 209B

2004 Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy

Marie Noorani, Christ the King School, Richland, Washington

• The Last Pioneers: Oral Histories at George Washington
  • Sunday, December 3, 9:15_10:15 am, Convention Center, 144C

Exemplary Research in Social Studies Award

Jere Brophy and Janet Alleman, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

• Session: Finding Out About and Connecting the Curriculum to Children's Ideas
  • Saturday, December 2, 8:00_9:00 am, Convention Center, 208A

Award for Global Understanding given in honor of James M. Becker

Neal Shultz, New Rochelle High School, New Rochelle, New York

• The Great Stories of World History and Global Understanding
  • Friday, December 1, 4:45_5:45 pm, Convention Center, 101

Defense of Academic Freedom

Deborah Mayer, Madison, Wisconsin

• How Will Garcetti vs. Ceballos Affect Free Speech at School
  • Saturday, December 2, 4:15_5:15 pm, Convention Center, 101

Spirit of America Award

Saturday, December 2, 10:30 am-11:30 am (Convention Center Ballroom A/B) Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, is a respected elder of the Crow Nation. Born in Lodge Grass, Montana, in 1913, he was raised by grandparents who knew life on the northern plains before reservation days and from whom he acquired training in tribal ways and customs. Few Native Americans today can provide such a compelling and authentic window into a way of life that ended more than a century ago. His book, Counting Coup (The National Geographic Society, 2006) tells of his warrior training as a youngster and how he applied that training as a foot soldier in Germany during World War II. Dr. Medicine Crow, who received his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California, lectures at the Little Bighorn Battlefield, at Little Bighorn Community College on the Crow Reservation, and colleges and museum throughout the country. He is the official historian of the Crow Nation and the last traditional Crow chief.

Carter G. Woodson Book Awards and Honor Books

Elementary Level Book Award

Let Them Play by Margot Theis Raven, Illustrated by Chris Ellison. Sleeping Bear Press, Chelsea, MI.

Elementary Level Honor Book

Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates , by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Raúl Colón. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, NY.

Middle Level Book Award

César Chávez: A Voice for Farmworkers by Bárbara C. Cruz. Enslow Publishers, Inc., Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Middle Level Honor Book

Roberto Clemente: Baseball's Humanitarian Hero by Herón Márquez. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

Secondary Level Award Book

No Easy Answers: Bayard Rustin and the Civil Rights Movement by Calvin Craig. Miller Morgan Reynolds Publishing, Inc., Greensboro, NC.

Secondary Level Honor Book

Uh Huh! The Story of Ray Charles by John Duggleby. Morgan Reynolds Publishing, Inc., Greensboro, NC.

2006 Carter G. Woodson Book Award-Winning Author Panel Discussion

Saturday, December 2, 1:45_2:45 pm, Convention Center, 206 This panel offers a fascinating glimpse at the 'story behind the stories' of the 2006 Carter G. Woodson award books_told by the authors. Discussion, and Q & A. Chairs: Cynthia Patton, Detroit, Michigan and Carrie Sorensen, Saginaw, Michigan.

At 3pm, after the session, the authors will be signing their books at the NCSS Book Store in the NCSS registration area.