Social Studies Summit
- event_available
- placeAustin (Main Campus)
- grade6 CPE Credits
- local_offer$175
ESC Region 13 Annual Social Studies Summit: Critical Thinking, Critical Connections
Come be part of an inspiring day of professional learning at the 3rd Annual Region 13 Social Studies Summit: Critical Thinking, Critical Connections. This event brings together K–12 educators to focus on improving Social Studies learning outcomes for all students.
Engage in a variety of breakout sessions led by teachers and experts in the field, featuring strategies for effective Social Studies instruction, ways to support students’ critical thinking skills.
Highlights
- Effective Pedagogy: Learn innovative strategies tailored to the complexities of Social Studies content.
- Support Students Critical Thinking Skills: Learn ways to develop students’ historical thinking and civic knowledge.
- Enhancing content knowledge: Deepen your understanding of key Social Studies concepts and content areas. Gain insights into curriculum development, assessment practices, and resources to bolster your expertise in the field.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just beginning your journey in Social Studies instruction, the Region 13 Social Studies Summit offers valuable insights and resources to support your professional growth.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow educators, exchange ideas, and leave inspired to empower students with a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Keynotes
 Glenn Wiebe"I have an intense belief in the power that educators have as agents of change in the world. We have the ability to literally modify the future through our interactions with kids." Glenn is the president of History Tech Consulting, providing professional learning opportunities, curriculum coaching, and assessment support for teachers, schools, and districts across the Midwest and the country. Glenn’s teaching career began at Derby Middle School, finding ways to help 13-year-olds dig deeply into social studies and reading. He earned a graduate degree in American History while continuing to develop innovative practices and sharing them with his students. He spent several years teaching at a small midwestern liberal arts college before transitioning into a social studies specialist position a regional educational service center. Glenn now travels across the country, working and learning alongside both elementary and secondary teachers onsite, virtually, and at state and national conference throughout the United States. He is the past president of the National Social Studies Leaders Association, acted as co-chair for the 2013 and 2020 Kansas State Department of Education Social Standards Writing Committee, and is a past president and current board member of the Kansas Council for the Social Studies. He also serves on the advisory board of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program, is a state representative on the National Geographic Advisory Committee, the NCSS Publications Committee, the NCSS Resolutions Committee, and is a member of the iCivics Educators Network. Glenn lives in southern Minnesota with his wife Maura and will admit to visiting Gettysburg National Military Park no more than nine times. You can find him online at @glennw98 and at glennwiebe.org. |
Providence NkurunzizaTexas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission Providence Nkurunziza is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, an author, inspirational speaker, and advocate against violence toward women and children. At age 11, she lost both parents, five siblings, and her entire extended family during the genocide. In 2022, she published her memoir, Next Couple Hours: A Story of Fear, Loss, Courage, and Determination During and After the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Through her work, Providence bears witness to the atrocities of genocide, believing it is a responsibility to honor those who were lost and to educate future generations, as no society is immune to such violence. Providence has spoken at the United Nations, the Swedish Parliament, Holocaust museums, universities, synagogues, churches, and libraries. She is an ISGAP scholar, having completed advanced study on combating antisemitism at Oxford University, and was recently honored by Wagner College for her leadership in Holocaust, genocide, and anti-bias education. |
| 8:00-9:00 a.m. | Check-in + Breakfast |
| 9:00-9:15 a.m. | Welcome + Sponsor Time |
| 9:15-10:05 a.m. | Keynote Speaker: Glenn Wiebe |
| 10:05-10:25 a.m. | Vendor Hall + Snacks |
| 10:25-11:25 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
|
| 11:25-11:35 a.m. | Break |
| 11:35-12:35 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
|
| 12:35-1:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:15-2:15 p.m. | A Short Film and Conversation with Providence Nkurunziza |
| 2:15-3:25 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
|
| 3:25-3:35 p.m. | Break |
| 3:35-4:35 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
|
Presenters
Coyote Balderrama-ShookBullock Texas State History MuseumDr. Coyote Balderrama-Shook is the current School Programs Manager at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. They previously worked at the Harry Ransom Center, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and as a high school humanities teacher. They received their PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. |
Renee Blackmon4QM TeachingRenee Blackmon started her educator journey when she returned to the University of Texas to earn a teaching certificate while working as an Austin police officer. Her classroom experience started at Hays High School in Buda, Texas where she taught world history, economics, government, street law, and journalism. From there she moved to Round Rock ISD, a suburban district north of Austin, where she was instrumental in getting AP World History offered in the district. Renee went on to serve as an instructional coach and later as a program manager with a statewide curriculum team. She has been active in the social studies community for over thirty years and is a past president of the Texas Council for the Social Studies. She has a BSW from the University of Texas at Austin and an M. Ed. from Concordia University. |
Latricia DavisDallas Holocaust and Human Rights MuseumLatricia Davis is the Ackerman Family Director of Education at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, where she leads the development and implementation of educational programs and curriculum designed to engage audiences from kindergarten through adulthood. She also oversees a wide range of initiatives, including teacher training, student programs, and partnerships that promote understanding of history, human rights, and social responsibility. Prior to joining the Museum, Davis spent nearly 15 years as a secondary educator and college instructor in Texas and Colorado. Throughout her career, Davis has been dedicated to creating transformative learning experiences that inspire critical thinking, empathy, and active citizenship. |
Amanda DieStudies WeeklyAmanda Die is a Studies Weekly curriculum specialist and instructional trainer. She holds teaching certifications for Early Childhood through Sixth Grade, English Language Arts and Reading, English as a Second Language, a Texas principal certificate and a Master of Education Degree in Administration from Lamar University. After spending more than sixteen years in both private and public schools, Amanda understands the impact of providing a strong foundation for social studies on a school and its community. She has been sharing her Studies Weekly experience and knowledge as a professional development trainer since May 2020. An important part of her current responsibilities is supporting educators as they engage students in social studies content. She is proud to be a part of a team that recognizes and prioritizes the importance of EVERY member of the school community. |
Jamie FilipowSocial Studies School ServiceJamie Filipow is a Partnerships and Instruction Coordinator at Social Studies School Service. In her role, she partners with districts to align goals, resources, and professional learning. With over 16 years' experience in Texas public education, she has led curriculum, assessment, and professional development programs. |
William GrossAustin ISD + PBS LearningMediaWilliam Gross is a 7th year teacher at Travis Early College High School in Austin Texas. He is the Social Studies department chair and currently teaches US History, AP US History, Government, AP Government, and Personal Finance. He graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and in 2020 from the University of Texas in Austin with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on Social Studies education. |
Michelle HanchettNational Geographic Learning/ CengageMichelle Hanchett is the Social Studies Content Specialist for National Geographic Learning. She has worked for National Geographic Learning for 14 years traveling the country doing presentations for teachers of all grades. Her passion for Social Studies included being an advisor for the YMCA Youth in Government program for more than 16 years. She fell in love with Mapmaker in the Social Studies programs and enjoys sharing the features with teachers. |
Kameko JacobsLBJ Presidential LibraryKameko Jacobs serves as an Education Specialist at the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. Her educational background is in History (B.A., Oberlin College) and Social Studies Education (M.Ed., UT Austin). Before joining the LBJ Library, she taught 11th grade U.S. history for six years in Round Rock, Texas. Kameko is passionate about rich, engaging, student-centered social studies instruction that can enliven the past and enlighten the present. She loves both developing world class professional development for teachers and creating primary source dense, engaging, classroom-ready curriculum. |
Alan LowmanLowman Education LLCAlan Lowman is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lowman Education. Born to Texas educators and a product of Texas public schools, Alan's roots in Texas education run deep. Alan has 11 years of experience teaching in Texas middle-school classrooms, where his infectious personality and passion for people inspired both students and teachers alike. Alan founded Lowman Education in 2018 with the mission of creating simple, effective materials to help teachers focus on educating students and improving their performance. |
Jan MillerState Bar of Texas LREJan L. Miller serves as Director of Law-Related Education for the State Bar of Texas. She began her career in education as a classroom teacher and later served as Social Studies Coordinator for McAllen Independent School District from 1983 to 1992, where she led curriculum development and instructional programs across K–12 levels. In 1992, Ms. Miller joined the State Bar of Texas as Coordinator of the Law-Related Education Department. In 1995, she advanced to Director and also became Executive Director of Law Focused Education, Inc., where she has led statewide initiatives to promote civic education, constitutional understanding, and legal literacy among students and educators. Ms. Miller has been widely recognized for her contributions to law-related education. She received the Isidore Starr Award from the American Bar Association in 2007, one of the nation’s highest honors in the field of law-related education. In 2015, she was awarded the Sumners Foundation Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to public service and civic education. |
Providence NkurunzizaTexas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory CommissionProvidence Nkurunziza is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, an author, inspirational speaker, and advocate against violence toward women and children. At age 11, she lost both parents, five siblings, and her entire extended family during the genocide. In 2022, she published her memoir, Next Couple Hours: A Story of Fear, Loss, Courage, and Determination During and After the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Through her work, Providence bears witness to the atrocities of genocide, believing it is a responsibility to honor those who were lost and to educate future generations, as no society is immune to such violence. Providence has spoken at the United Nations, the Swedish Parliament, Holocaust museums, universities, synagogues, churches, and libraries. She is an ISGAP scholar, having completed advanced study on combating antisemitism at Oxford University, and was recently honored by Wagner College for her leadership in Holocaust, genocide, and anti-bias education. |
Becky RamirezTexas State Historical AssociationBecky Ramirez was born right outside of Lubbock, Texas, home of the Red Raiders. She stayed in the West Texas area through high school before heading off to Angelo State University where she earned her Bachelor's Degrees in History and English in 1996. Becky returned to her home in Odessa, Texas in 1998 and began a 30-year teaching career in public education as an English and History teacher, Region 18 ESC educational consultant, and PK-12 Social Studies Coordinator before joining TSHA. Her passion for all things social studies and student excitement led her to continue her professional journey with our team now. |
Brandon VanderfordConstituting AmericaBrandon Vanderford has been a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, NABE, and Tarrant County College for the last 14 years. He has been on the Board of Directors for Constituting America for 16 years and leads the Nation Wide School Speaking Initiative. This year, for America's 250'th birthday, Constituting America intends to provide more than 250,000 Free Constitutions, Free speaking events at more than 250 schools, and Scholarship opportunities including trips to Washington DC and Prizes up to $5,000 for Students and Teachers all across the United States! |
Glenn WiebeESSDACKGlenn Wiebe is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and keynote speaker specializing in social studies instruction, curriculum design, and instructional technology. A former middle school history teacher with a master’s degree in American History, he now works helping Social Studies teachers across the country supporting inquiry-based learning, primary sources, and engaging instructional practices. Glenn is the co-author of The Social Studies Field Guide, a former president of the National Social Studies Leaders Association, and the author of the award-recognized blog History Tech. |
Sessions
All Hail the Chili Queens: Teaching Texas History through FoodCoyote Balderrama-Shook, Bullock Texas State History MuseumWho were the San Antonio chili queens? What foods are used as Texas state symbols? How have Texans' recipes changed over time to match different tastes, national trends, and ingredient availability? Join us for this hands-on session to explore how food and foodways can be valuable tools for interpreting Texas history. |
Chocolate, Pirates, and Primary Sources: Engaging Kids, Developing LearnersGlenn Wiebe, ESSDACKChocolate-loving pirates. Red Bandits. Lexington walkthroughs. Understanding primary and secondary sources lays the foundation your kids need to think like historians. Together, we’ll dig into a few FIELD Guide Hikes designed specifically to move kids past rote memorization and help them analyze, connect, and apply evidence. And you will absolutely walk away with ready-to-use Guide resources, strategies, and activities! |
Get It Right the First Time: Exploring a Process for Lesson InternalizationJamie Filipow, Social Studies School ServiceAs social studies educators, we know that every minute counts! So, we need to make sure that we are ready for successful lesson delivery. In this session, participants will engage in a lesson internalization process focusing on the inclusion of “teacher moves” to prepare for effective Tier I instruction. Participants will leave with a lesson that they can implement immediately. |
Holocaust Remembrance Week Resources for Social Studies: Teaching Through UpstandersLatricia Davis, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights MuseumThis session equips educators with historically grounded, age-appropriate approaches for teaching the Holocaust while strengthening students’ critical thinking skills. Participants will explore the roles and actions of Upstanders and examine how these stories can deepen understanding of historical context. Attendees will leave with practical tools, resources, and clear guidance for implementing high-quality Holocaust instruction during Holocaust Remembrance Week and throughout the school year. |
Lessons from Upstanders: Civics, Discourse, and ResponsibilityLatricia Davis, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights MuseumThis session provides practical tools to strengthen students’ civic understanding, civil discourse, and responsible civic behavior. Using examples of Upstanders, educators will learn strategies for source analysis, evidence evaluation, and critical thinking. Participants leave with ready-to-use, TEKS-aligned activities that support respectful dialogue and informed civic participation. |
Making Learning Stick: A Practical Approach to SpiralingAlan Lowman, Lowman Education LLCTeachers dedicate valuable time and effort to teaching new concepts and skills, yet students often struggle to remember what they learned just a few days earlier. The solution is spiraling! This simple and effective approach to ongoing review helps students strengthen retention, build confidence, and improve performance. In this session, we will demonstrate how easy it is to incorporate a spiraling routine into everyday classroom instruction. |
Media Rich Classrooms: Integrating PBS LearningMedia into your lessonsWilliam Gross, Austin ISD + PBS LearningMediaDiscover how to transform your Social Studies lessons using PBS LearningMedia. This session explores media-rich social studies resources that can be seamlessly integrated into your lessons. Learn how to navigate the platform, integrate the tools into your already made lessons, and implement active engagement strategies. Leave with the tools to spark student inquiry through high-quality media. This session features resources from Ken Burns' new documentary "The American Revolution". |
Real Inquiry, Real Impact: Creating Critical ThinkersGlenn Wiebe, ESSDACKIn a complex world, critical thinking isn't just one more thing—it’s a prerequisite for active citizenship. But how do we help students connect classroom inquiry to actual problem-solving? Explore ready-to-use, leveled FIELD Guide activities that equip students with the skills they need to analyze real-world issues and solve complex challenges. Leave with tools and resources that make an immediate impact! |
Sources in Action: Teaching Students to Think Like Historians with Studies WeeklyAmanda Die, Studies WeeklyMove beyond passive reading and into powerful student thinking. In this interactive session, educators will explore how to intentionally use primary and secondary sources within Studies Weekly to build inquiry-driven classrooms aligned to TEKS. Participants will experience hands-on strategies using built-in source analysis tools that guide students through the thinking process modeled after the Library of Congress: Observe, Reflect, and Question. |
Story First! Learn the Narrative and the Skill of NarrationRenee Blackmon, 4QM TeachingHow do we get our students to retain content and practice skills? Teach them to tell the story. Before they can interpret documents, explain causation, or make judgements about history students must know the story. Join this session to experience a model of how using the The Four Question Method (4QM) equips students to answer the question “What happened?” while practicing the skill of narration. |
Teaching the Declaration of Independence—America at 250Jan Miller, State Bar of Texas LREParticipants will explore a newly launched Declaration of Independence webpage offering easy access to lessons not previously available, serving as a one-stop shop for educators. The session features Discover U.S. History, Era by Era videos including the Revolution episode to build teacher content knowledge, along with classroom-ready lessons such as sorting the Declaration’s grievances and targeted vocabulary support to help students engage with this foundational primary source. |
Texas Detectives: Cracking History Codes with Primary SourcesBecky Ramirez, Texas State Historical AssociationMove students from memorizing dates to interrogating the past? Handbook of Texas meets the Library of Congress’s Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) framework! Go beyond textbooks to explore the "messiness" of history. Participants will practice inquiry-based methods that force students to weigh evidence, identify bias, and build evidence-based arguments. You won’t just leave with a list of links—you’ll leave with a blueprint for fostering a classroom of critical thinkers. |
The Importance of our Founding Documents in the ClassroomBrandon Vanderford, Constituting AmericaAttendees will discuss the importance of our Founding Documents, as well as learn more about Constituting America's completely FREE resources they can use in their classrooms. All attendees will receive a Free Pocket Declaration and Constitution. |
Using Maps to Bring the World to Your ClassroomMichelle Hanchett, National Geographic Learning/ CengageParticipants will use National Geographic’s MapMaker to investigate a geographic question, gather visual evidence, and construct a supported explanation based on map layers and annotations. |
We Shall Overcome: The Soundtrack of a MovementKameko Jacobs, LBJ Presidential LibraryIn this session, participants will take a deeper dive into the stories behind the well known civil rights anthem 'We Shall Overcome'. They will be introduced to thinking routines that can help students analyze a variety of primary sources, including songs, photographs, oral histories, and letters. Participants will walk away with a classroom ready resource that is easily adaptable to suit a number of curricular needs. |
Secure your spot
Need to get in touch?
Contact a member of our team for more information.
Melissa Solis, 512-919-5454