MCSS Awards and Teacher Recognition

2026 Annual Awards of Excellence – WINNERS!

The Massachusetts Council for Social Studies is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Awards for Excellence in Teaching.   The Council presents these awards each year to exceptional educators in a variety of social studies disciplines from across the Commonwealth.  Teachers, administrators, and museum educators at all levels are eligible for this honor.  The awards are also a recognition of the support that school districts provide for their social studies teachers and for the civic education of their students.

The Council is grateful for all the nominations it reviewed.  So many supportive colleagues wrote on behalf of talented educators across our state.  Please consider applying in 2026.

The MCSS Awards ceremony will take place at Old Sturbridge Village following the MCSS Spring Conference on March 13th, from 4:30-6:30.

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

Benjamin Alden – Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, Franklin

Ted Collins – Monument Mountain Regional High School, Great Barrington

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

Rebecca Duchesneau – North Andover Middle School

Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Social Studies

Fabiane Noronha – King Open School, Cambridge

John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

Amy Corriveau – Hingham Middle School

Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

Karen Bentley – Albert F. Ford Middle School, Acushnet

Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

Camille Christian – South End Middle School, Springfield

Recognition of Department Excellence in Teaching Social Studies

Danvers High School Social Studies Department

Charles Mitsakos Award for Outstanding Supervisor

Brooke Kessel – Needham Public Schools

Marena MacLaughlin – Everett Public Schools

Debra Miller Award for Excellence in Museum Education

Old Sturbridge Village

Our 2025 Award Recipients

Rachel Williams, Giordano Cambridge Ringe and Latin High School

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies (left, with her nominator)

Donna Myers, Drury High School

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary (left, with her nominator)

Valerie Higgins, Whitcomb Middle School, Marlborough

Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

Alec Archambault, Springfield Central High School

George Watson Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics
 

 

Becky Jackson, North Middlesex Regional High School

Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education  (second from left, with colleagues)

 

Tara Boudreau, Indian Orchard Elementary School, Springfield

Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Social Studies (center, with other award winners)

Nipmuc Regional High School Social Studies Department

Recognition of Department Excellence in Teaching Social Studies
(Matthew Merten, Darcy Daniels, Daniel
MacIsaac, Christine Manzella, Brian Moloney)

 

Lynne McNeil, Northbridge Middle School

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies (right, with her nominator)

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham

Debra Miller Award for Excellence in Museum Education
(Steve Guerriero – Director of Education)

Past recipients of the MCSS Excellence in Teaching Awards

2024

 

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

  • Angelisa Cole – Lynn Vocational Technical Institute
  • Elizabeth Sheptyck – Monomoy Regional School District, Chatham

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

  • June Gustafson – Hingham Middle School

Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics

  • Luke Maus – Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Lynn

Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

  • Kelly Trayers – Scituate High School 
  • Brennan Tierney – Mohawk Trail Regional School, Shelburne Falls

Charles Mitsakos Award for Outstanding Supervisor Award.  

  • Michael Feeney –  Falmouth Public Schools

Debra Miller Award for Excellence in Museum Education

  • Kristen Gallas – Tsongas Industrial History Center 

2023

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

  • Steve Scully – Westford Academy
  • Nate Everett – Sandwich High School

William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

  • Shaina Byrne – Gibbs School, Arlington

Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

  • Joe Jussaume – Lowell High School

  • Tom Trainor – Rindge Avenue Upper School, Cambridge 

John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

  • Erika Guckenberger – McCall Middle School, Winchester

Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

  • Lauren Knight – Silver Lake Regional High School

Debra Miller Award for Excellence in Museum Education

  • Kate Melchior – Massachusetts Historical Society

    2022

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

    • Erin Powers – Framingham High School
    • Sarah Casey – Marlborough High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Kerri Devin – Pierce Middle School, Milton

    George Watson Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Ann Hennessey – Chicopee High School
    • Patrick Kiley – Marlborough High School

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

    • Rachel Barnes – Monomoy Regional High School

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography High School Level

    • Thomas Smith – Middleboro High School

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Level

    • Caroline Cadel – Whitcomb Middle School, Marlborough

    Richard Aieta award for Promising New Teacher

    • Alexander Uryga – Matignon High School, Cambridge

    Debra Miller Award for Excellence in Museum Education

    • L’Merchie Frazier – Museum of African American History

    Recognition of Department/team Excellence in Teaching Social Studies

    • Shauna Delaney, Clayton Hobart, Christopher Lowe, Emily Welton-Reis, Jose Reyes, Jill Morin – Whitcomb Middle School, Marlborough

    Friend of Social Studies Award

    • Representative Andres X. Vargas – 3rd Essex District

    2021

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching High School Social Studies

    • Mike Eromin – Canton High School
    • Melissa Heeden – Mansfield High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Stephen Guerriero – High Rock Middle School, Needham 

    Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Social Studies

    • Laurie Risler – Westfield State University
    • Bridget D’Agostino – Benjamin J. Phelps Elementary School, Agawam 

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education 

    • Jessica Lander –Lowell High School

    Recognition of Department/team Excellence in Teaching Social Studies Award 

    • Norton High School Social Studies Department 

    MCSS Service Award 

    • Jay Peledge – Hanscom Middle School, Lincoln

    2020

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

    • Adda Maria Santos – Somerville High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Christina Robles and Kelly Ransom – Mansfield Middle School

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics

    • Molly Uppenkamp – Norwood High School

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Sarah Cannon – Weymouth Middle School

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Duncan MacLaury – Cambridge Ridge and Latin

    Charles Mitsakos Supervisor Award

    • Denton Conklin – Arlington Public Schools

    Janna Bremer Friend of Social Studies Award

    • David Buchanan – iCivics

    Recognition of Excellence in Teaching Social Studies Award (Dept or Team)

    • Social Studies Department – Hingham High School

    2019

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

    • Heather Willinger – Scituate High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Jaimee Martin – West Bridgewater Middle/Senior High

    Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Teaching

    • Carolyne DiClementi

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

    • Kaitlin Moran – Brighton High School

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Janice Fairchild – Hanscom Middle School, Hanscom AFB Lincoln Public Schools

    Richard Aieta Award Promising New Teacher

    • Alex Hoyt – Quinn Middle School Hudson

    Richard Aieta Award Promising New Teacher

    • Beatriz Motto – Rindge Avenue Upper School – Cambridge Public Schools

    Charles Mitsakos Award Outstanding Supervisor Award

    • Janna Bremer – Virginia Turner – Barnstable Public Schools
      Friend of Social Studies Award
    • Senator Harriet Chandler

    2018

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

    • Natalia Cuadra-Saez – Snowden International School, Boston

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies 

    • Barbara Fine – Walsh Middle School, Framingham

    Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Social Studies 

    • Karen Engels, Graham & Parks School

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics 

    • Michael Neagle – Pyne Arts Middle School, Lowell

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography 

    • Celeste Reynolds – Mashpee High School

    Ricard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Farah DiPasquale – Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge

    Charles Mitsakos Supervisor Award

    • Gorman Lee – Braintree High School 

    Janna Bremer Friend of Social Studies Award

    • Kathleen Barker – Massachusetts Historical Society

    2017

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching High School Social Studies

    • Donald Franke

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Alison Sancinito

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Gisel Saillant

    George C. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Brendan Kells

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Georgeann Bossers

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics Education

    • Kevin Dua

    Janna Bremer Friend of Social Studies Award

    • Dr. Stephen Kenney

    2016

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching High School Social Studies

    • Caitlin Murphy

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Jenny Chung

    Barbara J. Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Social Studies at the Elementary Level

    • Bernadine Lormilus

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Jessica Lander

    George C. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Michael Welch

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Chris Mahoney, Andrew Garrity, Eric Bakke

     Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics Education

    • Kelley Brown

     Janna Bremer Friend of Social Studies Award

    • Richard Cairn

    2015

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching High School Social Studies

    • Moncrieff Cochran, Sean Smith, Robin Wanosky, Moncrieff Cochran/APUSH Team Weston High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Daniel Bracken/Silver Lake Regional Middle School, Kingston

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Cynthia Massillon – Somerville High School

    Charles Mitsakos Supervisor Award

    • James Kirkcaldy – Hingham High School

    George C. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Ian MacKay – Arlington High School

    John Reilly Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Steven Herbert – Plymouth South Middle School

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civics Education

    • Kristine Forsgard – Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro 

    Janna Bremer Friend of Social Studies Award

    • Jaime Gass – Pioneer Institute

    2013

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary

    • June Murray – Hudson High School

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School

    • Eric Mendoza – Saint Columbkille Partnership School

    Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary School

    • Natacha Scott – Josiah Quincy Elementary School

    John Riley Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Rachel Killian – Dr. Robert G. O’Donnell Middle School

    George G. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Richard Donnelly – Bedford High School

    Charles Mitsakos Outstanding Supervisor Award

    • Edward Belbin – Westborough H.S.

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Christina Baron – Mansfield Public School

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

    • Brett Duncan – Ashburnham-Westminster School District

    2012

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary Social Studies

    • June Murray – Hudson High School, Hudson, MA

    William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Social Studies

    • Eric Mendoza – Saint Columbkille Partnership School,Brighton, MA

    Barbara Capron Award for Excellence in Elementary Teaching

    • No nomination

    John Riley Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography

    • Rachel Killian – Dr. Robert G. O’Donnell Middle School, Stoughton, MA

    George G. Watson, Jr. Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    • Richard Donnelly – Bedford High School, Bedford, MA

    Charles Mitsakos Outstanding Supervisor Award

    • Edward Belbin – Westborough High School, Westborough, MA

    Richard Aieta Award for Promising New Teacher

    • Christina Baron – Mansfield Public School, Mansfield, MA

    Don Salvucci Award for Excellence in Promoting Civic Education

    • Brett Duncan, Ashburnham – Westminster School District, Ashburnham, MA