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Welcome to WCSS 25 - MAKING SOCIAL STUDIES MATTER! We are excited to host a powerful two day conference in our state capital, sharing countless ideas and methods to continue making social studies relevant to our students.  Get ready to learn, grow, and have some fun in the process!
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Saturday, March 15
 

7:30am CDT

Breakfast in Regions and WCSS Business Meeting
Saturday March 15, 2025 7:30am - 8:00am CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 7:30am - 8:00am CDT
BALLROOM

8:15am CDT

Tony DelaRosa Keynote Address
Saturday March 15, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
Tony DelaRosa (he/siya) is son to Pampangan & Caviteño immigrants. He is a father, husband, and an award-winning Filipino American Author, Spoken Word Poet, Educator, Coach, and Researcher. He holds a BA in Asian Studies at the University of Cincinnati, a M.Ed with a focus on Arts Education and Non-Profit Management from Harvard University, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin Madison. His research focuses on how ethnic studies and race-based policies and theories in education translate into effective practice grounded in a lens of Asian American & Filipino American critical theory.

​For his work, he has received the 2021 INSPIRE Award from the National Association of Asian American Professionals, the 2023 Community Trailblazer Award with TAAF, and was named one of Wisconsin's Top Asian American Leaders by Madison 365 News. He has been featured in NBCHarvard Ed Magazine, the Smithsonian, CNN, and elsewhere.
 
He co-founded NYC's first Asian American teacher support, development, and retention initiative called AATEND under NYC Men Teach, the NYC DOE, and Office of the Mayor.  Today, he coaches CEOs and Principals on crafting and refining their short-term and long-term racial equity strategy. Lastly, he authored the debut book "Teaching the Invisible Race," which was a Finalist for the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and 2024 IPPY Silver Medal Awardee. 
​Follow him on IG and Twitter at @TonyRosaSpeaks.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
BALLROOM

9:15am CDT

Bring Current Events Alive!
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
How do we bring current events to life? Move beyond the traditional and engage in active, thoughtful deliberation of events that shape our students lives.
Speakers
DV

Dean Vesperman

Dean Vesperman
CB

Chase Brown

UW-LaCrosse
TC

Terra Clark

UW-LaCrosse
ZP

Zach Powley

UW-LaCrosse
SS

Shelby Schultz

UW-LaCrosse
YZ

Youssef Zahid

UW-LaCrosse
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 3

9:15am CDT

Unlocking the Bill of Rights Using QR Codes
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Join us as we share our unique approach to bring the Bill of Rights to life for today’s students. From engaging infographics to captivating lessons, along with interactive poster puzzles and beyond, we’ve got all the tools to make the Bill of Rights unforgettable.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV AB

9:15am CDT

Hands-on Econ: Bringing the Dismal Science to Life
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Economics doesn’t have to be the dismal science! Participate in hands-on lessons and activities on key economic concepts of unemployment, inflation, GDP and trade and learn about free resources, from infographics and online courses to videos and podcasts, designed to engage students and spark learning in your economics classroom.
Speakers
LM

Lesley Mace

Economic Education Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank
.
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 4

9:15am CDT

The Pizza Impact – Cross-curricular connections through the context of food, fiber and fuel.
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Discover how frozen pizza can unlock conversations around communities, jobs, food security, and economies. Join us for real-life examples and lessons that utilize the rich context of food, fiber, and fuel. Leave with classroom-tested and student-approved lessons and activities that will put some pizazz in your social studies curriculum while building upon ELA, science, and EE standards.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Schaefer

Beth Schaefer

Coordinator, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom - Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation
I am passionate about food, farming, and people. For the past 22 years I have worked in both formal and informal roles related to agriculture literacy and education. I spent five years as an Agriculture Educator and Biology teacher in both rural and urban schools and for the past... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 1

9:15am CDT

Bringing AAPI and Hmong Stories to Life: A Teacher's Guide to Implementing Act 266
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Join Wisconsin Historical Society's workshop led by AAPI and Hmong educators! Learn effective strategies for implementing Act 266 through interactive demos and primary sources. Discover ways to integrate AAPI and Hmong histories into your curriculum. Includes hands-on activities and Q&A to help you confidently bring these important stories to your classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Van Haren

Kate Van Haren

Kate Van Haren teaches upper elementary school in Pittsville Wisconsin. She teaches social studies and reading. Kate is a board member of the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies and has worked on curriculum development for the Wisconsin Historical Society, Minnesota Historical... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
UNIV CD

9:15am CDT

Tools for Teaching Responsible and Engaging Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
This session will explore the myriad resources offered by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Resource Center. Educators at this session will have the opportunity to preview pre-made lesson plans and primary sources as well as learn about field trip opportunities, traveling trunks, and professional development workshops.

Speakers
SG

Sam Goldberg

Holocaust Education Resource Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
CONF 2

9:15am CDT

Using the FIELD Guide to Engage Your Learners and Create Powerful Learning
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 11:15am CDT
Powerful learning happens when we share powerful evidence, ask compelling questions, and integrate edtech tools into lesson designs! We’ll showcase beginner, moderate, & veteran-level exemplar lessons based on the FIELD Guide, all guaranteed to engage students with primary sources, inquiry, and tech tools. Leave with ready-to-use materials and planning strategies.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 11:15am CDT
ASSEMBLY

9:15am CDT

What Fires Together Wires Together: The Science of Simulations
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 11:15am CDT
Discover how simulations engage students in active, meaningful learning by combining physical movement, creativity, and problem-solving with real-world applications. Explore the neuroscience behind simulations, learn how to design and implement them effectively, and leave with practical tools to make social studies truly matter in your classroom.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:15am - 11:15am CDT
CAUCUS

9:15am CDT

9:30am CDT

Teaching Civil Discourse: building skills and attitudes for civility
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Civil discourse is a core skill to support civic engagement and democratic decision making. It also helps create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas, and can productively navigate disagreement. We will dig into how to define civil discourse, and how teachers in all subject areas and grade levels can teach the skills for civility.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
UNIV AB

10:30am CDT

Citizen Nation: Civics Resources for Dialogue and Inquiry
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 10:30am CDT
How can students be a model for civil dialogue? How can teachers build student capacity through inquiry and discussion? The new PBS show Citizen Nation takes a behind the scenes look through the eyes of students participating in the “We The People” program to help build civic knowledge and skills.
Speakers
avatar for David Olson

David Olson

Director of Education, Retro Report
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 10:30am CDT
UNIV AB

10:30am CDT

ENGAGE: Building Global Citizenship Through Human Rights and Genocide Education
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
Dive into the world of human rights and genocide education! We'll explore powerful stories, global responses to crises, and real-world issues like migration and modern slavery. You'll swap ideas, tackle hands-on activities, and brainstorm how to bring these topics into your classroom. Walk away with creative strategies to get your students thinking like global citizens.
Speakers
avatar for Justin Glodowski

Justin Glodowski

Former WCSS President, Marshfield HS
Host of the ENGAGE: Teaching the Social Studies Podcast!
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
CONF 1

10:30am CDT

Bringing Local History and Civics to Life with Beacon, a new Game for Place-Based Learning
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Dive into the power of place-based learning with Beacon, a location-based game currently in development that makes civics and history education engaging, accessible, and relevant for students... all with a low lift for teachers! Participants will give feedback on the game and collaboratively brainstorm modules to address critical gaps in local civics curriculum in Wisconsin.
Speakers
avatar for Libby Falck

Libby Falck

Curriculum & Game Designer, Forward Games
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 4

10:30am CDT

The Bill of Rights in the Digital Age: Protecting Liberties in a Modern World
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
As technology evolves, so do the challenges of applying the Bill of Rights to new contexts. This session will explore how founding-era protections of freedom of speech and privacy translate into modern debates over surveillance, digital privacy, and freedom of expression online. Educators will learn strategies to help students apply the first ten amendments to modern issues.
Speakers
avatar for Emilee McHorney

Emilee McHorney

Teacher Programs Manager - Midwest, Jack Miller Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
SENATE B

10:30am CDT

Your Own Backyard: Using Place-Based Learning and Field Trips to Meet Standards and Increase Student Civic Engagement
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Emphasize student-led inquiry and civic engagement through place-based learning! Learn how educators from organizations around the state built a template for teachers and historic sites to use field trips to meet social studies standards. How could you use this customizable template to increase student inquiry in your own backyard?
Speakers
avatar for Kris McDaniel

Kris McDaniel

Social Studies Consultant, WI Dept of Public Instruction
I am the DPI Social Studies Consultant. My main work is to provide quality PD and resources to teachers and to connect organizations and districts. My main focus and passion, though, is helping social studies teachers in whatever they may need to provide amazing, rockstar instruc... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
UNIV CD

10:30am CDT

Creating History Labs for Elementary Social Studies
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
History Labs are powerful tools for engaging students in meaningful historical inquiry and developing critical thinking skills using primary sources. With careful planning and implementation, they can transform social studies instruction at the elementary level. Learn to curate inquiry boxes to make elementary social studies matter.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 2

10:30am CDT

Wisconsin Act 31 - What Is Your District Doing to Incorporate American Indian Studies into the Curriculum?
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

This presentation will provide an in-depth discussion about WI Act 31. WI Act 31 is a state law requiring all public school districts and pre-service educator programs to provide instruction on the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of the American Indian nations and tribal communities in Wisconsin. The focus is to help educators and other stakeholders understand and implement WI Act 31.
Speakers
avatar for David O'Connor

David O'Connor

American Indian Studies Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
David J. O'Connor  is originally from and is a citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa ( Anishinaabe or Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. In January 2012, he became the American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In Da... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
CONF 3

11:05am CDT

Civics Games
Saturday March 15, 2025 11:05am - 11:35am CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 11:05am - 11:35am CDT
CONF 1

11:30am CDT

Vendors and Candidate Networking
Saturday March 15, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
EXHIBIT HALL

12:15pm CDT

Lunch, Business Meeting and Awards
Saturday March 15, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
BALLROOM

1:15pm CDT

State Bar Association: Mock Trials as a Learning Tool In & Out of Class
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
Simulating courtroom trials is a great way for students to get a hands-on learning experience and learn how their individual rights are protected by our justice system. Join a Mock Trial Teacher Coach to find out more about the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament and how you can utilize opening statements, closing arguments, and direct/cross examination questions in your class!
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
CONF 1

1:15pm CDT

Contemporary Antisemitism
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Join HERC as we discuss the impact that rising antisemitism is having on students and school culture. Using Echoes & Reflections materials and data from Wisconsin, this session will provide educators with the tools they need to identify and respond to antisemitism in a classroom setting.
Speakers
SG

Sam Goldberg

Holocaust Education Resource Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
CONF 2

1:15pm CDT

Human Impacts on Land and Sea: Hands-on Geography Activities
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Discover hands-on approaches to teaching the dynamic interrelationships between people, places, and the environment. Themes include global population trends, natural resource use, and how human activities have changed our landscapes and oceans over time. Engage in modeling, simulations, and lively debate that make course topics come alive.
Speakers
avatar for Kaela Swanson

Kaela Swanson

Social Studies Teacher, School District of Ashland
I am a 8thgrade Social Studies teacher in Ashland, WI. By utilizing my adaptive teaching style, I connect lessons to the local area to help convey my learning objective. Incorporating local history into my lessons also helps educate my students about the original cultures and communities... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
SENATE A

1:15pm CDT

Elevating Civil Rights Movement Voices from Past to Present
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Explore teaching the impact of the Civil Rights Movement’s milestones and their influence on social dynamics and justice efforts. Leave with resources to foster meaningful civil discourse and critical thinking on historical reform and current challenges, like the role of AI in perpetuating biases. Empower students to connect the fight for civil rights to better engage in today’s social issues.
Speakers
avatar for Allan Carey

Allan Carey

Allan Carey is the Director of Sphere Education Initiatives at the Cato Institute where he leads the organization’s efforts to engage grades 5-12 educators, including the annual Sphere Summit, on civic education, civil discourse, and the institutions of civic culture. Prior to his... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
UNIV CD

1:15pm CDT

Getting Nast-y with Political Cartoons in your classroom!
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Help students understand history through political cartoons. Explore techniques for interpretation and analysis, opening a new world of primary documents. Empower students to grasp historical concepts effectively.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
SENATE B

1:15pm CDT

Wisconsin Historical Societies
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
UNIV AB

1:15pm CDT

Using the U.S. Supreme Court to Teach More Inclusive History
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Courts are often venues for people to challenge discrimination and seek relief and societal change. Sometimes court is the best or only option. Other times it is not. Explore how diverse advocates used court to pursue equity. Cases focus on 5 areas: religion, disability, LGBTQ, AAPI, and Native Americans. Ready resources included.
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
CAUCUS

1:15pm CDT

WI Civics Fellows in Action: Projects Around the State
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
The Civics Fellows are classroom teachers from across WI who have been working to build knowledge and communities of practice for civics. Each Fellow has a personal project they have been working on and they'd like to share their work with you! Project examples include civic engagement in the classroom, teacher community and mentorship, and community/place-based learning.
Speakers
avatar for Kris McDaniel

Kris McDaniel

Social Studies Consultant, WI Dept of Public Instruction
I am the DPI Social Studies Consultant. My main work is to provide quality PD and resources to teachers and to connect organizations and districts. My main focus and passion, though, is helping social studies teachers in whatever they may need to provide amazing, rockstar instruc... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
ASSEMBLY

1:50pm CDT

Tackling Tough Dialogue
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:50pm - 2:20pm CDT
In this session, attendees will experience a simulated lesson revolving around engaging in difficult conversations. Teaching today requires educators to navigate the complexities of diverse learners with a plethora of backgrounds. This can make discussion-based lessons a challenge for educators as well as students. Teachers will leave this session with ideas, strategies, and confidence.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 1:50pm - 2:20pm CDT
CONF 1

2:30pm CDT

From Parchment to Practice: Why the Constitution Still Matters
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
This session will explore how the U.S. Constitution, written more than 200 years ago, continues to shape modern-day politics and society. Educators will learn how to help students connect constitutional principles—such as separation of powers, federalism, and checks and balances—to contemporary debates on governance, justice, and civil rights.
Speakers
avatar for Emilee McHorney

Emilee McHorney

Teacher Programs Manager - Midwest, Jack Miller Center
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
SENATE A

2:30pm CDT

Bridging Divides Through Civil Discourse: Empowering Students to Find Common Ground
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Discover practical tools and strategies to foster meaningful civil discourse in your classroom. This session explores methods to help students engage with diverse perspectives, navigate controversial topics, and build skills for constructive dialogue. Empower your students to bridge divides and cultivate understanding in history and social sciences education.
Speakers
avatar for Shawn McCusker

Shawn McCusker

Senior Director of Professional Development, EdTechTeacher
Shawn McCusker is an author and Senior Director of Professional Learning at EdTechTeacher. He has 25 years of experience as a teacher and leader in public, private and alternative schools. Shawn is the author of Becoming Active Citizens, winner of the 2022 Foreword INDIES Gold Award... Read More →
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
CONF 2

2:30pm CDT

Use AI Now!
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Embrace AI and learn simple ways to use this powerful technology in your classroom now. This interactive session will demonstrate introductory ways you can use AI to create unique lessons, modify resources for special education students, and strategies to save you time. The time to use AI is NOW!!
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
SENATE B

2:30pm CDT

Using Digital Literacy Skills to Teach and Learn about the Armenian Genocide
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Explore digital literacy skills to empower students to analyze historical and contemporary narratives about the Armenian Genocide and genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh. Participants in this session will examine tools to empower students to critically evaluate news, social media, and academic sources, identify biases, and foster informed discussions on propaganda, denial, genocide, and human rights.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
CONF 3

2:30pm CDT

Mentorship Matters: Supporting the Next Generation of Social Studies Educators
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Supporting and retaining new social studies teachers is vital for fostering student success, strengthening inquiry-based instruction, and promoting civic engagement. Participants will gain an understanding of the overview of this mentorship project, connect with a community of peers, offering guidance based on individual needs and career stages.
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
CONF 1

2:30pm CDT

Visual Literacy: Democratic Principles Matter
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Images project the stories histories (of past and present) related to civic virtues and democratic principles. This session employs an interactive, three-step process for students to de-familiarize images from a single meaning and address the complexities of visual narratives. No art experience needed.
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
CONF 4

2:30pm CDT

Using Everyday Surroundings to Teach Geography
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Students need to learn the beauty of the natural world before they become interested in saving it, and teachers can help students learn the basis for geographic knowledge in everyday experiences. Participants will explore concrete suggestions and interesting activities including connections for both the classroom and to share with families at home.
Speakers
Saturday March 15, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
UNIV AB

3:00pm CDT

Empowering Young Learners to Access Difficult Histories: Lessons From a Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Fourth Grade Holocaust Unit
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
This session will take elementary educators through two teachers’ collaboration around an interdisciplinary fourth grade Holocaust unit, addressing co-planning, social-emotional learning, content accessibility, and text accessibility as necessary pedagogical components. We will also offer teachers resources and time for reflection about how they might teach difficult histories to young learners.
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
CONF 3

3:30pm CDT

Final Featured Sessions
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
TBA
Saturday March 15, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
TBA

4:30pm CDT

Closing Words and Prizes
Saturday March 15, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Saturday March 15, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
BALLROOM
 
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