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We know that many educators are supporting social studies, some with official supervisor or coordinator titles and others as department chairs, instructional coaches, or classroom teachers. So we've updated our name to reflect the desire to include everyone who works to make the world a better place.

We will always remain focused on our mission to empower and promote those who are creating effective, inclusive, and equitable systems that advance the teaching and learning of PK-12 social studies.
Interested in
​NSSLA membership?

​​Chicago, IL 2026!

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The NSSLA Conference is a terrific time, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones from around the country. There is just something exciting about being around people who share the same passion and commitment to furthering social studies instruction. 

We are heading to Chicago on December 3, 2026, to bring together social studies leaders and supervisors from across the country. Our goal is to dive deep into the most relevant and timely topics facing our field today—and we want your voice in the room. Make sure to visit https://www.socialstudies.org/conference for updates about NCSS. 

Webinars from Practitioners & Partners
We're always excited for the chance to learn alongside you! We are actively planning our 2026-2027 Webinar series with district-level practitioners and NSSLA Partners, connecting you with the latest social studies research, strategies, and tools. 
Access recordings and resources from our past webinars.

Our Partners Are Your Partners
We're dedicated to empowering and supporting educational leaders across the country. One way to do that is to connect you with third-party resources, tools, and organizations. The following companies and organizations are ready to help you advance the teaching and learning of PK-12 social studies.

The Leader
Fall 2027
The Fall 2026 issue of The Leader is here!
Highlights include:
  • NSSLA President David Burton reflects on the value of connecting with fellow social studies leaders and invites readers to the 2026 annual conference in Chicago.
  • Kevin P. Bower and Jaci Grimes explain how guided inquiry can raise the level of student thinking in social studies classrooms.
  • Erin Sullivan explores how schools can turn effective teaching strategies into consistent instructional practices.
  • Dr. Florian Feucht introduces self-paced THINKING PRO lessons that help students practice reading, source analysis, and critical thinking with historical and contemporary texts.
  • Virnilisa Printup makes the case for study tours as professional learning that deepens educators’ understanding of the places and histories they teach.
  • Jessica Ellison advocates for stronger support for elementary social studies teachers and students.
  • Cody Pietro shares ways to use games to support discussion of challenging civic issues.
  • Zachary Cote examines how common assessments can measure the thinking and skills at the heart of social studies.
  • Stephane Manuel shows how comics can provide context and encourage rigorous inquiry, while Denis Belliveaumakes the case for bringing primary sources to life.
  • Kobi Nelson offers a practical look at how recognizing cognitive biases can improve educators’ decisions.
  • A preview of the 56th Annual NSSLA Conference on December 3, 2026, with information to help attendees plan their Chicago visit.
Explore the full issue for more ideas on literacy, civic learning, geography, and social studies leadership!

Interested in submitting a manuscript for The Leader? Submission deadline for the Fall edition is March 15, 2027 with anticipated publication date of April 15, 2027. Learn more by contacting:
theleaderfall2026.pdf
File Size: 29956 kb
File Type: pdf
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      Become an NSSLA Partner
We'd love to connect you and your organization with our NSSLA members! Exhibiting at the 2025 conference in Washington is just one of the ways that put you in touch with curriculum specialists, district supervisors, department chairs, and teacher leaders from across the country.

But we want to work with you the entire year! Learn more by contacting:
2025 Conference Materials

Weren't able to make the 2025 Conference but want to grab some conference materials?
​Head over to the Conference Presentation Materials section.
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It was an honor to have Dr. Hasan Jeffries as our Keynote speaker. Thank you to Facing History and Ourselves for making this possible.
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The passing of the gavel- Virnilisa Printup passes the gavel to David Burton. We thank Virnilisa for her passionate leadership of NSSLA and look forward to David's stewardship of the organization.
 Learn more about NSSLA state-level affiliated groups
NSSLA - National Social Studies Leaders Association
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