I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their outstanding job aboard the Yorktown at our fall conference. Without the tireless efforts of organizers, exhibitors, presenters, and attendees, it would not have been a success. A special thank you to Garrett Walker and Tracee Simpson who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful conference. In October, Garrett resigned from the role of President in order to spend more time with family and professional obligations. His efforts were greatly appreciated by educators across the state. Thank you Garrett for a great job! Get ready for the 2014 conference in Columbia! Conference information can be found at www.sccss.org.
We are all aware of Common Core and the rigors we face with implementation in our state and districts. Common Core ensures the important of social studies curriculum. Our discipline teaches writing, inquiry, and development of opinion, which is aligned with Common Core. Every day in Social Studies classrooms, students are engaged in the techniques that the Common Core emphasizes. Politics aside, good teaching is good teaching and our students deserve an active curriculum.
I am very excited to share another resource which is poised to reform social studies instruction. The College, Career and Civic Life Framework- otherwise known as C3 was developed by teachers and professors from around the nation. Inquiry is interesting for students and this is the heart of social studies and C3. One of the driving principles of this resource is that social studies is composed of deep and enduring understandings, concepts and skills from the disciplines and those skills are needed for todays society. Please visit this website http://www.socialstudies.org/c3 to download a free copy of C3. I would like for you to let me know your thoughts on C3. Please email me your comments.

I recently attended the National Social Studies Conference in St. Louis where I had the opportunity to hear amazing speakers discuss the future of education. I was reminded of something very powerful by the President of NCSS, Steve Armstrong. He asked the audience to remember the teacher who made a difference in their life. Then he pointed out that as teachers, we are that influential person to a student today. I encourage you to continue to build relationships with students and continue to be that influential person in our students' lives!
Amazing learning opportunities are occurring in classrooms across the state. Please continue to share your opportunities with teachers at SCCSS's conference, the call for proposals will come out in the next couple of months and I hope you apply to present. Again, follow our website for information concerning mini-grants and opportunities for teachers over the summer.
Thank you for all that you do for social studies in our great state!
Sincerely,
Leslie Carter
President of South Carolina Council for the Social Studies