The Future of Social Studies Education

Sarah Schwartz began the webinar by digging into current controversies around Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the bills working their way through statehouses across the country to dictate content and instruction. Our panelists agreed that the mostly-manufactured crisis was starting to have real-world consequences for schools and teachers. “The first place we are going to see things really happen is at the school board level,” according to Lawrence Paska, “we’ll see it in the elections and meetings coming up.” Natacha Scott also took a moment to remind us that there are inspiring responses happening as well, “There are actually states that are expanding education about racism and bias,” she said, “deepening their examinations about the contributions of marginalized populations.”

If this moment isn’t about social studies, I don’t know what is.” Shanti Elangovan

As for what the future of social studies holds, there was consensus among panelists that as we move into the future, we will need social studies more than ever. “If not now, when?” Shanti Elangovan shared the sentiments of one of inquirED’s district partners. She continued: “If this moment isn’t about social studies, I don’t know what is.  And we have to ask ourselves: how are we supporting teachers at this moment?” Paska agreed and shared how “the challenges to our institutions, to our democracy, the issues for justice and equity that we are calling for,” should reorient how we approach social studies and instructional time. “We should not be carving out time for social studies,” he said, “we should begin with social studies, lead with social studies.”

“We should begin with social studies, lead with social studies.” —Lawrence Paska

There was also broad agreement that education leaders, curriculum providers, and advocacy organizations need to improve supports for classroom teachers. According to Elangovan, “we have left teachers out there on their own.” Natacha Scott agreed and wanted to send a clear message to teachers “I want to reinforce to educators that you are not alone. Talk to your colleagues, talk to your community, there’s so much we can do together.”

“I want to reinforce to educators that you are not alone.” —Natacha Scott

During the discussion, much of the focus on supporting teachers had to do with providing teachers with high-quality instructional materials and sources that support inquiry in social studies. At Educating for American Democracy, where Natacha Scott works with educators, they’ve focused on creating a roadmap that includes vetted resources. “As an educator,” Scott said, “we know how hard it can be to gather resources. That’s why we’re curating resources to support teachers.” Elangovan encouraged educators, curriculum providers, and advocacy organizations to focus on “a landscape analysis of state standards” and on the “ingredients we have in common,”  like the C3 Framework and The Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy.  “If we focus on these common elements,” Elangovan said, “we can push curriculum providers to create high-quality materials to meet our demands.”  

Panelist Bios

Dr. Lawrence Paska

Executive Director, National Council for the Social Studies

Paska began his career as a middle school social studies teacher in New York state public school districts. He later served in multiple roles at the New York State Education Department (Albany, NY). He led New York's standards and assessment programs for P–12 social studies education as a state social studies specialist, established the Office of Educational Design and Technology in P–12 Education, and implemented the Board of Regents' Statewide Learning Technology Plan and regulations for online and blended learning as the Coordinator of Technology Policy. Paska returned to schools as the Director of Social Studies for the Harrison Central School District (Harrison, NY), leading K–12 social studies, business, and library media departments. Most recently, Paska served as the Director of Professional Development for the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), where he and his team provided instructional programs and services for 32 public school districts in the greater New York City region, supported data-driven instruction, developed instructional leadership seminars, and were instrumental in implementing New York State's K–12 Social Studies Framework.

Natacha Scott

Director of Educator Engagement, iCivics

Natacha worked with the Boston Public Schools for the past 14 years beginning her journey as a third-grade teacher at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School after she graduated from Northeastern University with a Masters in Teaching and a Bachelor's concentrated in Public History. She then continued her growth in leadership by participating in a principal internship through the Center for Collaborative Education Principal Residency Network. Prior to transitioning to her role as  K–12 Director of History and Social Studies, Natacha worked with the History Department in several different capacities including curriculum writer, elementary coach, and assistant director in order to develop curriculum resources and professional development to support teachers with designing engaging and meaningful learning experiences for students.

Beyond the classroom, Natacha serves as a professional development specialist at ​​Educating for American Democracy and has served as a review panel member supporting the revision of the Massachusetts History and Social Science 2018 Curriculum Framework. She also contributed to the design and development of the Civics Project Guidebook used to frame the expectations of the Action Civics Projects aligned with the 2018 Massachusetts law on civic education.  Natacha also serves as a Steering Committee member and Educator Workshop Lead for the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap project.  She is also a part-time lecturer at Northeastern University, facilitating a course on history and social studies pedagogy.  

Shanti Elangovan

Founder and CEO, inquirED

After obtaining an M.Ed from Columbia University, Shanti Elangovan moved from classroom teacher to coach to curriculum director. Eager to help educational organizations scale their impact, she went on to earn an MBA. Shanti quickly put those skills to work by envisioning and implementing strategies to grow National Center for Teacher Residencies’ impact. In 2017 Shanti founded inquirED to scale the use and impact of inquiry-based learning, a powerful teaching pedagogy that prepares students for the 21st century.