In honor of her exemplary teaching practices, Minnesauke Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Kate Hunter has been named the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by The National Council for the Social Studies and will be honored at the 97th NCSS Annual Conference in San Francisco on Nov. 17-19.

Ms. Hunter’s teaching model focuses on engaging students in social problems both local and international as she encourages them to develop empathy and engage in making change. In addition to the national honor she received, Ms. Hunter was commended for her inspirational teachings during a recent visit with New York State Regent Roger Tilles.

Ms. Hunter received her New York Permanent Certification in Elementary Education in 2003 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Science in Elementary Education from C.W. Post, Long Island University, New York. She was awarded the Margaret Simon Outstanding Teacher of Social Studies by the Long Island Council for the Social Studies in 2016 and recently was recognized as Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the New York State Council for the Social Studies. 

She serves in the educational advisory committee of several organizations, including the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Besides LICSS, NYSCSS and NCSS, her affiliations include The Southern Poverty Law Center, One Clip at a Time, and Three Village Teachers Association. She conducts professional development classes for teachers at various local, state and national conferences and is passionate about helping students turn social studies into informed social action. 
 
The NCSS Annual Conference is the largest and most comprehensive social studies professional development conference where social studies educators share, interact, develop ideas and enhance their skills. This year’s theme, ”Expanding Visions/Bridging Traditions,” will offer more than 900 content-rich sessions covering all subjects and grade levels, a lineup of renowned speakers and education experts and numerous exhibiting organizations displaying the latest in educational resources.