Professor Tina Heafner Named President of the National Council for the Social Studies

The Cato College of Education is continuing to broaden its influence nationally with the selection of Dr. Tina Heafner as the newest President of the National Council for the Social Studies.

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is a nationwide professional association committed to advocacy and ensuring all students receive a high-quality social studies education. NCSS provides leadership, services and support to students and educators across the country at both the K-12 and university levels.

Heafner, a longtime member of NCSS, has had many roles and elected positions that paved the way to earning the top executive role for 2019-2020.

“My continued service to NCSS on national committees, task forces, and grant projects, affirmed my commitment to national service and ultimately led to my decision to run for NCSS President,” said Heafner.

Over her tenure thus far, Dr. Heafner has hosted the organization’s 99th Annual conference in Austin, Texas. Along with hosting, Dr. Heafner was instrumental in organizing the largest support for first-time attendees in the history of the organization. Dr. Heafner was able to provide 50 teachers across the country from low-income and majority-minority schools with sponsored scholarships, giving them the opportunity to attend their first national conference.

Dr. Heafner assisted in making the first Land Acknowledgement ever offered by NCSS. The Acknowledgement recognizes that “NCSS upholds the responsibility of ensuring a social studies education that respects and affirms Indigenous peoples, nations, and sovereignty, given that all education in the United States takes place on Indigenous lands.”

Heafner is also currently developing a learning partnership with the European Union intended to “strengthen educators’ understanding of the EU and its commitment to democratic principles and collaboration.”

For Heafner, the new role is yet another effort fueled by her conviction on the importance of the field.

“In the spirit of democracy, we must honor the champions of human rights, civility, diversity, equality, inclusion, sovereignty, and justice. And we must recognize the critical role that social studies educators need to embrace in humanizing the curriculum, educating for empathy and action, and empowering children and youth agency, advocacy, and activism,” she said.

Dr. Heafner is a well-known champion for students of all ages and levels of education. In her time serving as President of NCSS, she will continue to use her role as a means of introducing greater positive influence on the nationwide social studies education community, and advocating for positive and informed civic involvement.

by: Sydney Davis