Award	Eligibility Requirements	Submit a Resume	Write an Essay	Submit a Letter of Recommendation	Present at ICSS Conference
Iowa Social Studies Teacher of the Year	Member of ICSS 3+ years of teaching experience Current teaching contract	x	x	x
Clair Keller Development Instructional Project Grant	Member of ICSS Submit a project proposal Submit a cover page				x
Don Fett Social Studies Instruction Award	Member of ICSS Submit an exemplary lesson plan Submit a cover page				x
Helen Finken Award	Member of ICSS 1-3 years teaching experience Submit two lesson plans			x	x
Tom Morain Award	Member of ICSS Full time K-12 teacher in Iowa Submit a lesson plan that highlights Iowa history	x		x

Details about each award are below.

Click the link following each description to apply.  If you wish to apply for more than one award, you need to complete each application individually.

Iowa Social Studies Teacher of the Year 

The Iowa Social Studies Teacher of the Year will be recognized with an award and a one-year paid membership to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Iowa Council for the Social Studies (ICSS).  Winners also have the option to be nominated for the NCSS Teacher of the Year Award.  The 2025 winner of the Iowa Social Studies Teacher of the Year award was Kelly    Steffen, Vinton Shellsburg High School, pictured to the right.

Eligibility Requirements:

        -Member of ICSS
        -3+ years teacher experience in K-12
        -Current teaching contract in Iowa
        -Embrace the state social studies standards
        -Use inquiry throughout teaching
        -Submit a resume
            -Letter of recommendation from principal or district leader
                            -Essay by nominee or colleague of nominee

Recipients of this award are encouraged to lead a session at the fall conference. 

Application must be completed no later than May 31st. 

Clair Keller Development Instructional Project Grant

About Clair Keller

The Clair Keller Development Instructional Project Grant is intended to help teachers develop new curriculum for the classroom. Examples could be a new lesson or project for taking action. 

Project Proposal Requirements

• Member of ICSS

• Main purpose

• Schedule for completion

• How project will improve social studies education

• Cover page

The Clair Keller Development Instructional Project Grant winners receive a grant of $250. The winner must also present at the next ICSS fall conference.  Applications must be completed no later than May 31st. 

Don Fett Social Studies Instruction Award

About Don Fett

The Iowa Council for the Social Studies will give a $100 cash award to K-12 teachers for submitting an exemplary lesson plan that they have created.  

Lesson Plan Submission Requirements

• Member of ICSS

• Reflects current trends on social studies

• Original to the teach of any social studies discipline

Winner(s) of this award must present their lesson plan in the year they receive their award at the ICSS fall conference.  Applications must be completed no later than May 31st.

Helen Finken Award  

About Helen Finken

This award recognizes teachers in their first three years of teaching Social Studies, who have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in social studies education. Jenna Eastman from Iowa City High School was the 2025 recipient of the Helen Finken Award.

Eligibility Requirements:

-Member of ICSS
-Less than three years teaching experience
-Submit two lesson plans that demonstrate best practices in social studies
-Letter of recommendation from mentor, principal, or district leader

Recipients will be required to lead a session at the conference at which they receive the award. Recipients receive an award and registration for the conference at which they will receive the award,     plus ICSS and NCSS membership for one year. Application must be completed no later than May 31.

John Haefner Award

About John Haefner

Individuals who are eligible for the John Haefner Award must be recommended by a member of the Iowa Council for the Social Studies to the Executive Director and the President of the Council.  Professionals selected for the award must have promoted excellence in teaching of social studies by participating in professional workshops and conferences at both the state and national levels. The nominee is not to be informed that they have been nominated or are to receive the award.  The essence of this award is recognition by the recipient’s peers for outstanding teaching, continuous learning and/or service to the social studies education profession. The Executive Board will evaluate the applications and the recipient of the award will be announced at the annual conference luncheon.  The recipient of this award will receive a plaque from the Iowa Council for the Social Studies signifying his/her selection. Nominations for this award should be submitted to the ICSS Executive Board @: icssonline@gmail.com by May 31st.

Friends of ICSS Award

Each year the ICSS Executive Board may recognize an individual or a group, who consistently help the council in their pursuit of bettering social studies education in Iowa. ICSS members may nominate individuals or groups they deem deserving of the award. Nominations must be made to the Executive Director and the President of the Council.  The purpose of this award is to be recognized by the Council for outstanding service and/or continuous learning to social studies education. The Executive Board will determine the recipient of the award and the recipient will be announced at the annual conference luncheon. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque from the Iowa Council for the Social Studies signifying their selection and service to the profession. Nominations for this award should be submitted to the ICSS Executive Board @: icssonline@gmail.com by May 31st.

Dr. Thomas J. Morain Award for Outstanding Iowa History Teacher

This award is to recognize and reward a fulltime Iowa K-12 teacher who provides exceptional and outstanding educational experiences centered around Iowa’s history.  Recipients of this award actively teach about Iowa’s history and foster in their students a desire to learn more about their state’s history.  This award honors Dr. Thomas J. Morain (1947-2020), historian, educator, author, and tireless promoter/advocate of and for Iowa history.   

Criteria for nominating a teacher are given below.  Nominations are due annually by May 31.  The recipient will be honored at the Annual Conference for the Iowa Council for the Social Studies, beginning in 2022.

Recipients will receive a plaque, a one-year complimentary Iowa Council for the Social Studies membership, and a cash award.  They will be asked to lead a session on teaching Iowa history at the annual conference. Applications must be completed no later than May 31st.

To nominate you or someone else, fill out this Application.

For more information, contact awards chair:
Ben McQuade
icssonline@gmail.com


**All award winners will be notified by July 1 and will receive their award at the Fall Conference**