Georgia Humanities at the 61st Annual Georgia Council for the Social Studies Conference
Awards Ceremony at GCSS
Georgia Humanities was proud to partner with the Georgia Council for the Social Studies (GCSS) at its annual conference held October 23–24, 2025 at The Classic Center in Athens. As a state‐level affiliate dedicated to building teacher capacity, GCSS seeks “to advocate for, support, and celebrate the advancement of quality social studies teaching for Georgia students,” and envisions students “to be knowledgeable, effective decision makers and engaged citizens in a globally interdependent world.”
At the conference, Georgia Humanities joined forces with LaGrange College to staff an information booth and host breakout sessions introducing educators to the rigorous student‐research program National History Day (NHD). Our goal was to expose social studies teachers from across Georgia to NHD’s inquiry‐based framework, provide support and resources, and recruit new teacher‐champions for the program. By engaging directly with teachers in the exhibit hall and during guided conversations, we reaffirmed Georgia Humanities’ commitment to teacher professional development and to building educator networks anchored in the humanities.
We were also honored to co-sponsor the keynote address by Malcolm Mitchell, where 482 teachers listened as he shared his inspiring journey from struggling reader to Super Bowl champion and literacy advocate, underscoring the transformative power of education and the vital role teachers play in student lives. During his talk, Mitchell described how an eighth‐grade teacher changed his trajectory and helped him discover a love for reading, which he carried through to the University of Georgia and, later, the Share the Magic Foundation, an organization Mitchell founded with the goal of improving children’s literacy rates. His message resonated deeply with the conference audience.
Keynote Address with Malcolm Mitchell, right
Looking ahead, Georgia Humanities is excited to announce that we will co‐sponsor next year’s GCSS keynote featuring renowned naturalist and author Kiliii Yuyan. This upcoming keynote aligns with our mission of enriching teacher professional learning by introducing fresh voices, content, and perspectives into the classroom.
From our presence at the exhibit, engagement with teacher‐leaders, and strategic sponsorship of keynote programs, Georgia Humanities continues to invest in the professional growth of Georgia’s educators. By helping teachers connect with programs like NHD, we strengthen the humanities ecosystem and support the educators who shape the civic and historical understanding of our next generation.
