The Kentucky Council for the Social Studies is proud to announce Kirby Haskins of Owingsville Elementary School (Bath County Schools) as the 2026 KCSS Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year! A compassionate and innovative educator, Kirby brings civics and history to life by instilling the principles of inquiry, ignition, and inspiration in every lesson. From investigating primary sources and creating interactive Wax Museums to guiding students in writing real legislative inquiries to congressional leaders on topics they care about, Kirby empowers young learners to see themselves as active, lifelong participants in our democracy. Beyond transforming classroom learning into authentic civic action, Kirby’s dynamic approach has driven extraordinary academic growth, including a 22% increase in student proficiency in Social Studies. KCSS is thrilled to recognize Kirby's outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact on Kentucky’s future citizens!
The Kentucky Council for the Social Studies is thrilled to announce Hannah Laswell of Rockcastle County Middle School (Rockcastle County Schools) as the 2026 KCSS Middle School Social Studies Teacher of the Year! An innovative Eighth Grade Teacher, Team Leader, and Project Citizen Club Sponsor, Hannah brings history and government to life through dynamic inquiry and experiential learning. Whether using her popular "King's M&Ms" simulation to help students feel the frustration of taxation without representation, examining landmark Supreme Court decisions, or fostering respectful dialogue around constitutional principles, she creates a vibrant classroom where history is experienced, analyzed, and applied. With dual Master’s degrees in Special Education and Literacy, Hannah leverages trauma-informed practices, rigorous data literacy, and deep empathy to empower every student. Please join us in celebrating Hannah’s dedication to inspiring Kentucky’s youth to become critical thinkers, active community members, and lifelong participants in our democracy!
The Kentucky Council for the Social Studies (KCSS) is thrilled to announce Dr. Christy Cartner of Bryan Station High School (Fayette County Public Schools) as the 2026 KCSS High School Social Studies Teacher of the Year! A veteran educator, C3 Framework pioneer, and university instructor, Christy brings unparalleled expertise in inquiry-based design and culturally responsive teaching to her classroom every day. Her instruction seamlessly bridges historical rigor with authentic civic agency—whether through an intergenerational AP U.S. History Oral History assignment, compelling national budget investigations, or senior Civics units that empower students to turn community, courage, and the Constitution into direct calls to action. Beyond igniting a passion for lifelong civic participation in high schoolers, she inspires the broader educational community through her research on meaningful inquiry, published curriculum work, and mentorship of emerging Social Studies teachers. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Cartner's exceptional leadership, scholarly dedication, and profound impact on Kentucky's students and future citizens!
KCSS is honored to announce Dr. Daniela DiGiacomo as the 2026 Georgia Davis Powers Award recipient! Daniela Kruel DiGiacomo is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky. With a background in teaching and social work, Daniela's research focuses on how to design formal and informal learning settings in ways that support and extend young people’s lived civic experiences, interests, and expertise. As a learning scientist trained in the sociocultural tradition, her scholarship is guided by a commitment to pursuing research that is both just-conferring and humanizing-- research that proceeds with the assumption that diversity is a resource to be leveraged, rather than a problem to be solved. Since 2019, Daniela has also been the adult research partner for the Kentucky Student Voice Team, and in that role, she leads organization-wide research capacity building focused on student-led research for the improvement of education policy and practice. In collaboration with local and state civic leaders, much of DiGiacomo's current work focuses on the study and improvement of pre-service elementary teachers as future civic educators. We are thrilled to recognize Dr. DiGiacomo as this year's Georgia Davis Powers Award winner!
KCSS is honored to posthumously recognize Scott Dobler as the 2026 Meece Award for Excellence in Social Studies Education recipient who passed away on July 17, 2026. Scott devoted his career to education, geography, and public service. At the time of his passing, he served as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager for the City of Scottsville after more than twenty years teaching Geography and GIS at Western Kentucky University. A gifted educator, he inspired thousands of students through his passion for geography, humor, and hands-on learning, including leading study-abroad programs to Australia, Hawaii, and Ireland. His dedication extended beyond the classroom through service with the Kentucky Geographic Alliance, Kentucky Geographic Names Committee, Kentucky Council for the Social Studies, and as Kentucky’s State Geographer. He also helped develop Kentucky’s Social Studies Standards and was a trained meteorologist who faithfully volunteered with CoCoRaHS (National Weather Service). KCSS humbly honors and remembers our dear friend, Scott Dobler with the 2026 Meece Award.
*The Meece Award honors excellence in Social Studies Education in Kentucky, and nominations are submitted to the KCSS Steering Committee for selection. Considerations include the nominee’s contributions to history, geography, economics, and civics education, support of advancement of Social Studies curriculum and instruction. Recipients are not always a classroom teacher, but someone who goes above and beyond to support social studies education.