National Social Studies Leaders Association (NSSLA)
National Social Studies Leaders Association (NSSLA)
The National Social Studies Leaders Association (NSSLA) promotes the common interest of social studies supervisors and leaders in instruction, curriculum, research, teacher training, and social action. One of our purposes is to encourage and assist in the development of sound supervisory practices that lead to the improvement of social studies instruction.
NSSLA is open to all members of NCSS who have supervisory and leadership responsibilities for social studies curriculum and instructional programs in Pre-Kindergarten through grade twelve. This includes individuals with titles such as director, department chair, curriculum coordinator, consultant, supervisor, specialist, or assistant principal. Some NSSLA members are also responsible for teacher training and preparation. For over forty years, NSSLA has grown to include members in nearly all fifty states and a number of other countries.
See more information and NSSLA resources at socialstudiesleaders.org.
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Mel Miller Award
Since 1993, NSSLA recognized has one of its own through an annual award. This recognition is significant because recipients have been nominated by their peers in the profession. Mel Miller was a social studies supervisor from Michigan, a board member and NSSLA president, and himself a recipient of this annual recognition. Upon his death in 2006, the award was named to honor his contributions and dedication to NSSLA and to the social studies profession.
Each year, nominations are solicited for this annual award. To be eligible, a nominee for the NSSLA Mel Miller Outstanding Social Studies Leader Award must be a current member of the organization. The nominee need not hold a supervisory title, but should demonstrate the delineated leadership qualities.
NSSLA Council Affiliation
As with the National Council for the Social Studies, NSSLA provides formal affiliation with local, state, and regional organizations of social studies leaders. Such affiliations serve as a mutual benefit by creating a network of social studies leaders at all levels of education to support social studies education and social studies colleagues.
Similar to NCSS, the affiliation process for NSSLA requires that the group be a formal organization and have a certain number of NSSLA members. At the present time, there are state-level organizations of social studies leaders in Texas, Michigan, and Oklahoma which are affiliated with NSSLA.
As a member of NSSLA, if you are part of an organization of social studies leaders in your area, you are invited to consider establishing a formal affiliation with NSSLA.