Past Award Winners

Please consider nominating outstanding social studies teachers, supervisors, and programs for the
following GCSS awards.

Nominations must be received (including supporting documentation)

by

September 8, 2023

To nominate someone for an award:

1. Click on the desired link below to complete the corresponding award nomination form and upload your letter of recommendation.?

2. Within 24 hours of the nomination form being completed, an email will be sent to the nominee requesting them to submit the award’s supporting materials no later than September 8, 2023.

Please note: nominations and supporting materials will not be accepted after the September 8 deadline.

Outstanding Social Studies Supervisor

Social Studies Program of Excellence

Georgia Outstanding Civic Educator Award

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Award

June Bryant Social Studies Teacher of Promise Award

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award

GCSS AWARD WINNERS SINCE 1981

2022 Awards

GCSS President Jennifer Dawson and Hinton Garrett lead the pledge to the flag  at the opening of the 2022 GCSS Awards Luncheon October 27

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator

Dr. Eddie Bennett, Executive Director of GCSS, and award winners Marie Feazel, Ashley Dawson, and Pam Knauer.

Eddie Bennett, Brandon Gerty award winner, and Jennifer Dawson, President of GCSS

Programs of Excellence

Bainbridge Middle School staff with Preston Poitevint holding plaque

Madras Middle School Staff with Mr. Phillip Sykes

Social Studies Leadership Awards

\Dr. Jeremy Nix, Gwinnett County Schools

Dr. Debbie Alexander, RESA Director and Crystal Parten, CSRA RESA

Phillip Sykes, Coweta County Schools

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award

Eddie Bennett, Leuisha Dixon – Award Winner, and Jennifer Dawson

June Bryant Teacher of Promise

Rebekah Blankenship, Gwinnett County Schools

Civic Educator of the Year

Michael Oglesby, Oconee County

Friend of Social Studies

David Sloan, Orbital Velocity

GilderLehrman Institute of American History Award

Kari Slaten – 2020

Jose Gregory – 2021

John Garner – 2022

Eddie Bennett, John Garner – Award Winner, Jennifer Dawson

President’s Award

Lauren Cape Newell –  Lost Mountain Middle School, Cobb County

Past President’s Award

Jennifer Dawson, GCSS President 2021-2022

Berryman Distinguished Service Award

Melanie Kellam, GCSS President-Elect 2022-2023: Dr. Eddie Bennett, Berryman Distinguished Service Award Winner 2022; Dr. Joe Fineberg, GCSS President, 2022 – 2023

2019 Awards

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator

Heather MacKenzie, (GCSS President), Lauren Yarnell Bradshaw (winner – University of North Georgia), and Eddie Bennett (GCSS Executive Director)

Heather MacKenzie, Georgia Frisch (winner – Fayette County), Eddie Bennett, and Becky Ryckeley (Fayette County Social Studies Coordinator)

Heather MacKenzie, Melanie Kellam (winner – Henry County), and Eddie Bennett

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Award

Joy Hatcher (GaDOE), Heather MacKenzie, Karrie Palmer (winner – Fayette County), Becky Ryckeley, and Eddie Bennett

Outstanding Social Studies Supervisor

David Kendrick (GCSS Past President), Chris Mercer (winner – Savannah-Chatham) Heather MacKenzie and Eddie Bennett

Programs of Excellence

Massie Heritage Center – Ayela Khuhro (Massie Heritage Center), Rachel Warren (Massie Heritage Center), Steve Smith (Massie Heritage Center), Chris Mercer (Savannah-Chatham County), Heather MacKenzie and Eddie Bennett.

National History Club of Newnan High School – Heather MacKenzie, Rachel Boyd (Newnan High School), John Garner (Douglas County) and Eddie Bennett

June Bryant Teacher of Promise

Heather MacKenzie, Morgan Delhey (winner – Cobb County), Rochelle Wilson (Cobb County) and Eddie Bennett

Georgia Civic Engagement Teacher of the Year

Heather MacKenzie, Randall Trammell (Georgia Center for Civic Engagement), Jennifer Nix (winner – Whitfield County), Eddie Bennett

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award

Heather MacKenzie, John Garner (winner – Douglas County), Christina Carroll (Social Studies School Service), Eddie Bennett

Berryman Service Award

Heather MacKenzie, Debbie Daniell (winner – Gwinnett County, retired) and Eddie Bennett

President’s Award

Joy Hatcher (winner – GaDOE), Heather MacKenzie, JoAnn Wood (winner – GaDOE), and Eddie Bennett

Recognition of President

Ernie Lee (President Elect – Savannah-Chatham County), Heather MacKenzie (GCSS President- Henry County), Eddie Bennett

2018 Awards

Nicole Ham, Barrow County Schools, June Bryant Teacher of Promise.

Steve Lawhorne, Gainesville City Schools (retired), Friend of Social Studies

Tammy Wilson, Clayton State University, Friend of Social Studies

John Garner, Coweta County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Angie Battle, Houston County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Lisa Henriquez, Henry County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Gretna Soltis, Houston County Schools, Outstanding Social Studies Supervisor

Laura LaChappelle, Butts County Schools, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Award

9/11 Commemoration, GCSS Program of Excellence, Bear Creek Middle School, Barrow County Schools

Beverly Roberts, Gwinnett County Public Schools (retired) President’s Award

2017 Awards

Anthony DiSario, Henry County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Jennifer Zoumberis, Houston County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Heather Burch, Barrow County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Sally Meyer, Fayette County Schools, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Social Studies Educator

Margaret Duncan, Henry County Schools, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Award

Heather MacKenzie, Henry County Schools, Outstanding Social Studies Supervisor

President’s Award given to Pam Knauer, Conference Coordinator.  (No picture.)

2016  Awards

Chris Cannon- President GCSS; Geri Lynn Flanary (Gwinnett County Schools) Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator; and Eddie Bennett – Executive Director GCSS

Chris Cannon – President GCSS; Kim Weston – Social Studies Coordinator, DeKalb County Schools; Jason Butler (DeKalb Early College Academy) Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator; and Eddie Bennett – Executive Director GCSS.

Chris Cannon – GCSS President; Joe Feinberg (Georgia State University) Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator 2016; Eddie Bennett – GCSS Executive Director

Chris Cannon – GCSS President; Jeff Burns (Ola High School) Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator 2016; Eddie Bennett – GCSS Executive Director

Massie Heritage Center, Savannah

Chris Cannon – GCSS President;   Ayela Khuro, Chris Mercer and Rachel Bradshaw of the Massie Heritage Center; and Eddie Bennett – GCSS Executive Director

Chris Cannon – GCSS President; Jesse Evans (Cedar Shoals High School) – Teacher of Promise Award Winner 2016,  and Eddie Bennett – GCSS Executive Director

Chris Cannon, Brittany Upshaw (Peek’s Chapel Elementary School) – Teacher of Promise Award Winner 2016; and Eddie Bennett – GCSS Executive Director

2015  Awards

GCSS President Tammy Ponder, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Brian Sirmans of Lanier County and GCSS Executive Director Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Mike Savage of Gwinnett County, and Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, State YMCA Executive Director Dr. Randall Trammell receiving the “Friend of Social Studies Award, and Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Dr. Margaret Duncan of Henry County, and Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Ashley Goodrich of Oconee County and Eddie Bennett

Mike Savage, Gwinnett County; Ashley Goodrich, Oconee County; Brian Sirmans, Lanier County; and Dr. Margaret Duncan, Henry County.

Tammy Ponder, Teacher of Promise Kerry Moore of Fayette County and Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, Gwen Hutcheson, Diane Sloan and Eddie Bennett

Tammy Ponder, Glen Blankenship and Eddie Bennett.  Dr. Blankenship was recognized for 16 years of outstanding service as the GCSS Historian

Gwen Hutcheson, namesake of the Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator Award with daughters Kim Pruitt (L) and Wilma Hutcheson-Williams (R).

Ernie Lee, 2016 Georgia Teacher of the Year

Glen Blankenship bidding a fond farewell after 16 years as the GCSS Historian

Retiring GCSS Conference Coordinator Diane Sloan recognized by the Classic Center and GCSS for 11 years of outstanding service.

2014  Awards

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator, Becky DeLass, elementary teacher Cobb County School District

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator, Regina Holland, middle school teacher Henry County Schools

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator, Dr. Mickey Boyd, high school teacher Pelham City Schools

Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educator, Chris Cannon, Fayette County Schools

Dr. Kathy Wright, Berryman Service Award Recipient for 2014

2014 Georgia Gilder Lehrman Outstanding History Teacher Award presented by Dr. Margaret Duncan to Nina Kimball, Henry County School District

Georgia Civic Educator of the Year presented  by Randell Trammell to Alisha Gaston  of Lowndes Middle School

Pam Knauer of Houston County accepting the Social Studies Supervisor of the Year Award

Becky Ryckeley of Fayette County accepting the Social Studies Supervisor of the Year Award

2014 Gwen Hutcheson Outstanding Educators:  Front-  Regina Holland, Becky DeLass and award namesake Gwen Hutcheson.  Back- Mickey Boyd and Chris Cannon