Dear Social Studies Educator, 

The Minnesota Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) would like to connect with you and let you know about some upcoming and ongoing opportunities. The MCSS mission is to support, advocate for, and celebrate excellence in the teaching and learning of social studies in Minnesota. As you know, Social Studies has always been a hot topic of discussion and that’s certainly true today! Having a group of professional social studies educators that you can connect with, learn from, advocate together and celebrate with is an essential part of your professional network. 

2025 Annual Conference - February 23
The first big opportunity is coming up soon with our annual conference Setting the Standard: Illuminating Our Path Forward on Sunday, February 23 at Saint Cloud State University. This full-day conference includes a wide variety of sessions aimed at Social Studies educators across the K-12 spectrum. Connect with exhibitors from a variety of companies and organizations that support Social Studies teaching. Best of all, spend a day with a wide variety of amazing Social Studies educators from across the state. The cost is only $225 and includes breakfast and lunch. Complete details can be found at www.mcss.org/conference.

Social Studies Social - February 22
Additionally, we have a Social Studies Social the day before (Saturday, February 22) our conference, where we gather for dinner and honor our Teachers of the Year. Our keynote speakers for the Social are Dr. Walter Greason (A Wallace Professor of History at Macalester College),Tim Fielder(Illustrator, concept designer, cartoonist, and animator), and Dr. Michael B. Dando(Assistant Professor of English, and the Director of the Communication Arts and Literature program at St Cloud State University).This year’s social will be held at the same location as the conference, St. Cloud State University. To register, visit www.mcss.org/conference.

Updated Social Studies Standards
Keeping teachers connected with one another about changes in the standards, providing information and training about implementation of the standards and engaging with people who were part of the process is a major responsibility of the MCSS board. With the updated Social Studies Standards close to implementation beginning in 2026, both our upcoming conference and future events will feature plenty of sessions focused on supporting and informing educators. 

2026 Annual Conference Date and Location Set!
If you aren’t able to join us in 2025, our 2026 annual conference will be held at Macalester College in St. Paul on Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Become a Member of MCSS and NCSS
Simply becoming a member of MCSS is a low-key way to get connected with Social Studies educators across the state. We keep our members informed of current events in Minnesota Social Studies and it’s only $10. Look for that on the MCSS website www.mcss.org/Membership. You can also become a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and stay informed of national happenings as well as gain access to a vast array of resources. Visit the NCSS website www.socialstudies.org/membership for a variety of membership levels. You can also follow MCSS and NCSS on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram. 

Nominate a Teacher of the Year
Each year, MCSS honors four Teachers of the Year representing Elementary, Middle School, High School and Lifetime Achievement. These honorees exemplify the best of social studies teaching in Minnesota and are nominated by colleagues, supervisors, parents and students. Visit our MCSS awards page for more details https://www.mcss.org/awards

National Council for the Social Studies Conference Coming in 2027!
The annual NCSS Conference brings Social Studies educators and exhibitors from around the world to one great location and that will be here in Minnesota. Getting as many of your fellow Social Studies colleagues and district leaders to attend this event when it comes to town is a very powerful experience. We are already planning this great event and invite you to consider making plans to attend as well. 

Join the MCSS Board
We have a wide array of people on the MCSS Board from seasoned educators, pre-service teachers, administrators, professors and professionals in social studies fields. We invite you to join us and bring your diverse perspectives and experiences to the organization. Visit www.mcss.org/Board to learn more and please reach out to one of our officers to express your interest.