What Attending NCSS Taught Me About Civics
<p><em>By Cristina Berrett-Braun</em></p>
<p>Thank you, Bill of Rights Institute, for the opportunity to attend the NCSS this year in Washington, D.C. I was floored by the opportunity to be part of the celebration for social studies teachers.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700005550%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1g3j51B%2FejFBUf%2B1Wd71%2BZKdZ82WSePykIv6ZS8Eqx0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill of Rights Institute</a> offers teachers engaging PD throughout the year and a wealth of free resources. Their strong commitment to civics education includes awarding the<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fblog%2Fbri-establishes-gary-colletti-scholarship-for-ncss-attendees&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700029607%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TFSuOqrrFV2NTgqtj2Aeen%2FizAm17zCjyxnZHBEXIgI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Coletti Scholarship</a> to teachers to attend the annual NCSS conference. This year, twenty educators from around the country attended the conference, and for many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip</p>
<p>If that wasn’t enough, Bill of Rights Institute also has incredible free resources and is currently partnering with ICivics for the<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcivicstarchallenge.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700052874%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=djuii7HwFX9k%2FSbXIpWHTYVDrSQeNQAeaPOrCiN8GGg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Civic Star Challenge</a>-an opportunity for teachers to win prizes all year long as an effort to engage on content celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. My favorite BRI resources remain <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fwebinars%2Fhow-do-we-teach-what-it-means-to-be-an-american-civic-conversations&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700072988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=T3Pe34Mg6kSHet%2FffvAtZmM5n9NKtDnSs2NTOjghoso%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Being</a><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fwebinars%2Fhow-do-we-teach-what-it-means-to-be-an-american-civic-conversations&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700094068%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gHUUHI3k6WNIBrIaof%2FLOhjFlxW7J3YNtvM3Ft5DWZI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> an American</a>, <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fwebinars%2Fmissing-voices-teaching-primary-sources-from-black-authors-in-the-classroom-civic-conversations&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700117272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eLLymnDORpIcRek5aBSMfFDNxroiyZJCTiHlRikWbHk%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Black History</a>, and <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fcurricula%2Fheroes-villains&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700136882%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4ABxpV%2Bel2WXVmhkGYHQvB5X94f%2FHjYz%2FvLEzNaopUc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heroes and Villains. </a>The younger grades are not left behind, as they also have a <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbillofrightsinstitute.org%2Fcurricula%2Felementary&data=05%7C02%7CCHuntemann%40mybri.org%7Cfa601baffc754e6ebf0608de64c5be08%7Cfe3a3de6e0514f0388b7598637297c7f%7C0%7C0%7C639058997700155355%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=b%2BUFdUgvaZdEOi%2BAu%2Ft0NM1%2F7w6X7rnlIWZ8hHmYLDM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BRI Jr</a> set of materials.</p>
<p>Whether attending on scholarship or fully funding your own attendance at the NCSS Conference, there is no better PD for meeting and celebrating the profession with fellow content teachers and social studies efficianados. Engaging with professional content organizations offers teachers opportunities to continue learning, access additional free content, and occasionally travel.</p>
<p>NCSS is the premier place for social studies curriculum and professional development support at its national conference and throughout the year. Attendees this year enjoyed many phenomenal keynote speakers, from Sam Feist, CEO of C-SPAN, to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Jelani Cobb (whom I was able to get a picture with), and many, many more. The resources and sessions offered a wide array of opportunities to engage with classroom teachers and content creators. The wealth of information and opportunities that come from attending the conference is numerous beyond imagination. </p>
<p>Much of the content and resources highlighted at the conference focused on preparations for the 250th anniversary, so it is easy to imagine that next year’s conference will not be one to miss. In the meantime, enjoy some resources and connect with the Bill of Rights.</p>
<p><em>Cristina Berrett-Braun is a teacher with Douglas County Schools in Colorado. She is also a recipient of the Bill of Rights Institute’s 2025 Gary Colletti Scholarship.</em></p>