Since becoming a teacher, I have been continually struck by how difficult it can be to uplift the voices and lived experiences of educators. Too often, those making decisions at every level of our profession rarely hear directly from the teachers and students most affected by them. This realization has shaped my career as an educator and inspired my commitment to advocacy.

It is what led me to serve as the Legislative Liaison for the Virginia Council for the Social Studies, where I have worked to elevate teacher voice and advocate for our profession with decision-makers at the local, state, and national levels. Through this work, I have seen firsthand the power of organized, informed, and passionate educators coming together to influence policy and protect the future of social studies education in Virginia.

However, I also know there is much more work to be done, work I hope to dedicate myself to as President of the Virginia Council for the Social Studies. This profession has given me so much, from meaningful relationships with students to incredible professional opportunities. Unfortunately, I recognize that my experience is not universal. Many educators struggle simply to make it through each day. Too many feel isolated within their buildings, and far too many new teachers feel unsupported and left to navigate this profession alone.

These realities contribute to the declining number of newly entering educators and returning educators, both nationally and here in Virginia. As President of VCSS, my goal is to actively seek out and support the next generation of social studies educators, welcoming them into the strong, collaborative community of teachers, leaders, and advocates that defines our organization while also working to further the fight for all teachers' voices across the commonwealth. We have both a responsibility and an opportunity to fight for this profession, one I believe is amongst the most important of our time.

This work will take me back into the halls of power to continue advocating for teacher voice, but it will also take me into classrooms and educator preparation programs. There, I hope to ensure that future Virginia educators can see the possibilities, community, and impact that come with being a part of VCSS. By strengthening both advocacy and recruitment, we can safeguard the future of social studies education in our state and ensure that all educators are heard, supported, and empowered for years to come. I am honored to have the chance to serve as this organization’s president and am excited to help usher it and educators across the state into the next stage of social studies education.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it’s faced.”- 

James Baldwin

This was a passage that greeted me every time I walked into my classroom at Albemarle High School. Its words reminded me of the task ahead and affirmed my belief that our work for the day was only the beginning. My name is Hashim Davis. I am an Assistant Dean at the Office of African American Affairs and the Director of the Luther P. Jackson Black Cultural Center at the University of Virginia. It is with a humble but ardent heart that I present my candidacy for Vice President of the VCSS. As stated in the organization’s email, VCSS has underwent changes that have yielded net positives under the organization’s current administration. As your Vice President, I will support the president in their efforts to continue the trend in member retention and growth, advocacy and networking.

Who are you and why are you running for this position?

For nearly 25 years, I have taught history at the middle and high school levels. An ardent student and advocate for history, I have an extensive background in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I was selected for numerous fellowships in the areas of Holocaust studies including a Museum Teaching Fellow for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum-(’16); a teaching fellow for the Rafeal Schachter Defiant Requiem; a teaching fellow for The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights-(TOLI), and a Teaching Fellow and Facilitator with Echoes and Reflection, just to name a few. I have held numerous leadership positions through my work within the community. I am an active Life Member with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated where I serve as the Chapter Historian with Gamma Alpha Lambda Alumni Chapter seated in Charlottesville. Additionally, I serve as a state officer in my role as Sergeant-At-Arms. 

My passion has always been in service to others. Whether it to serve my students here at Uva; serving the community through the fraternity’s varied initiatives, or lending a hand within the VCSS, my body of work would enable me to continue this work of service as your next Vice President of VCSS. Together we will continue to honor this work as reflected in Baldwin’s words: “We carry our history with us. We are our history.”

I humbly ask for your vote.

View Allison's Campaign Video Here!

I am running for Vice President of the Virginia Council for the Social Studies because our organization has tremendous potential to better serve educators across the Commonwealth. Over the past year, my work on the Outreach Committee has given me valuable insight into VCSS’s operations and revealed meaningful opportunities for growth. While I am relatively new to VCSS leadership, my decade of experience in classroom instruction, curriculum development, and museum partnerships has prepared me to help strengthen our organization and expand its impact.

    For the past six years, I have served as a public school history and civics teacher in a variety of settings, including Title I schools, and have taught every subject in the state’s middle school social studies curriculum. Across these contexts, I have seen consistent challenges. Teachers must navigate evolving standards, increasingly diverse student needs, and limited resources while striving to make history and civics relevant for today’s learners. Many educators, especially those new to the profession, lack access to strong professional networks and sustained professional learning. I believe VCSS should be the premier resource and advocacy organization for every social studies teacher in Virginia, and I am committed to helping make that vision a reality.

    My passion lies in helping teachers teach better. As Vice President, I want to ensure that educators across the Commonwealth have access to high-quality resources, professional learning, and networking opportunities that support their goals. In my current role, I work closely with district leadership in Loudoun County Public Schools to create resources that increase access to social studies curriculum for all learners and serve on the county’s U.S. History curriculum team.

    What distinguishes my candidacy is my strong network of partnerships with Virginia’s cultural institutions. I serve on teacher advisory councils for the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and I am a teacher council advisor for the National Museum of the American Indian. As a Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Master Teacher since 2023, I design and present professional development focused on primary source analysis, hands-on history, and project-based learning. Additionally, my work with the College of William and Mary’s Strategic Cultural Partnerships, developing courses for the Lily PD platform, has given me insight into creating accessible, scalable professional learning experiences. These partnerships represent tangible pathways for bringing expertise and resources directly to Virginia’s social studies teachers.

If elected Vice President, I will focus on three key initiatives to strengthen VCSS and promote social studies education statewide:

     Accessible Resources and Teacher Support: Teachers need high-quality, standards-aligned materials that work in real classrooms. I will advocate for expanding VCSS’s resource library with practical materials that integrate literacy, technology, and differentiated instruction. I will also support professional learning opportunities that are accessible to all educators, including virtual options, site-based learning, and micro-PD offered across the Commonwealth.

     Museum and Historical Institution Partnerships: Virginia’s museums and historic sites offer exceptional educational value, yet many teachers struggle to access or integrate these resources. I will leverage existing relationships to develop formal partnerships that benefit VCSS members, including discounted programs, exclusive professional development, curated field trip resources, and collaborative curriculum projects.

     New Teacher Recruitment and Retention: The teacher shortage has a significant impact on social studies. I support establishing mentorship opportunities for early-career educators, expanding regional networking, and creating targeted professional development for teachers in their first five years. My experience leading teaching teams positions me well to help design initiatives that support growth and retention.

    While I am newer to VCSS leadership, I bring a fresh perspective, established partnerships, and a collaborative approach to curriculum and professional learning. I am committed to supporting the mission of VCSS and working closely with the President to ensure our organization is an indispensable resource for every Virginia social studies educator. 

I am excited to announce my candidacy for Vice President of the Virginia Council for the Social Studies (VCSS). For more than 20 years, I have devoted my career to empowering students through social studies education in the classroom, as the department chair, creating school division curriculum, and serving on 2 state SOL committees. For the past decade, I have proudly served as an active member of VCSS. This organization has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey, and now I want to give back by helping lead it into the future.

My experience within VCSS has been both broad and deep. As Secretary, Regional Representative, Equity Committee Chair, and Conference Registration Chair, I have worked alongside passionate educators to strengthen our programs and ensure that our work reflects the values of inclusion, collaboration, and excellence. These roles have taught me the importance of listening to our members, amplifying diverse voices, and creating spaces where educators feel supported and inspired.

I am running for Vice President because I believe in the transformative power of social studies—not just as a subject, but as a foundation for civic engagement and critical thinking. My vision for VCSS is to continue building a vibrant, connected community of educators who share ideas, innovate in their classrooms, and advocate for the importance of our discipline. As Vice President, I will work tirelessly to support the President, help plan an annual conference that is engaging and forward-thinking, and ensure that our regional representatives and awards programs reflect the incredible work happening across Virginia.

VCSS has always been more than an organization—it’s a family of educators committed to shaping the future. I would be honored to serve as Vice President and help lead this work with passion, integrity, and a clear vision for growth.

My name is Matthew Atkinson, and I am seeking reelection to the office of Treasurer for the Virginia Council for the Social Studies (VCSS).

I began my career in education and joined the VCSS in 2008. For the last 18 years, I have taught AP Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, and Sociology at Highland Spring High School in Henrico County.

My dedication to VCSS is evident in my continuous service: I have been a member for 18 years and have served on the Board for 17 of those years. My service began as the Central Virginia Regional Representative for two years, followed by my nomination to Membership Chair, a position I proudly maintained for twelve years. For the past six years, I have been serving on the Board of Directors as the VCSS Treasurer. Furthermore, I recently acted as Treasurer for the last two VCSS Annual Conferences (Richmond 2023 and Farmville 2024).

Nationally, I am committed to advocating for our profession. I have served as a Delegate to at least thirteen National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) House of Delegates (HOD) sessions. I was elected to the NCSS HOD Steering Committee for a term that ended in 2022 and have recently been reelected for a second three-year term (2025–2027).

I believe I remain the best candidate for this position. Over the last six years, I have gained immense knowledge of VCSS accounting and possess an accurate perspective of our financial history and future potential. As Treasurer, I have helped maintain and solidify VCSS’s tax-exempt status as an educational advocacy group in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I have also consistently maintained sound financial records and, at the President's request, submitted the yearly budget and quarterly accounting of all VCSS accounts to the Board for approval in a timely and efficient manner.

Furthermore, I believe that the Virginia Council for the Social Studies (VCSS) is uniquely positioned to capitalize on Virginia's central location and profound historical roots, opening doors to narratives that teach us invaluable lessons about our shared past. My vision is for VCSS to serve as the essential catalyst for educators across the Commonwealth, providing a dynamic resource to facilitate and expose them to a variety of lenses and stories. By equipping teachers with these diverse tools, we ensure that all students not only have a voice and see themselves reflected in the curriculum but also develop the critical skills needed to successfully navigate our vast, interconnected digital world. Ultimately, the VCSS will help foster a deeper understanding and compassion for one another, cultivating a new generation of empathetic and globally literate citizens.

I look forward to continuing to serve VCSS, helping us grow financially in step with the times. Thank you for your consideration.