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
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
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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