JAMESTOWN - Robert H. Jackson Center Education Director Joe Karb was named the national 2012 Outstanding Middle Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Karb was presented with the award at the 92nd annual conference of the NCSS in Seattle.
"This is a singular honor. Joe Karb brings a great credit upon himself, the teaching profession, and the Robert H. Jackson Center. On behalf of the Center and its board of directors, I congratulate Joe on this achievement," said President/CEO James C. Johnson. "We are proud to have Joe as part of the Jackson Center team."
A portion of the criteria for this prestigious national award includes the ability to foster a spirit of inquiry and the development of skills related to acquiring, organizing, processing, and using information and making decisions related to both domestic and international matters; the ability to foster the development of democratic beliefs and values, and the skills needed for citizen participation appropriate to students' grade level in classroom, school, and community settings.
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Submitted Photo
Pictured, from left: Leisa Martin, Awards Committee member; Randy Rice, executive director of educational programs, Farmers Insurance Group; Joseph Karb, Robert H. Jackson Center director of teacher initiatives, and J.D. Bowers, Awards Committee chair.
The Education Initiative for the Robert H. Jackson Center was created in 2011, by Karb and fellow colleague Andrew Beiter. Some of their activities over the past year include:
The creation and presentation of the Annual Robert H. Jackson Center Award for Teaching Justice. Piloted and offered only to educators in western New York in 2012, the Center will partner with NCSS to add a national award in 2013.
Solidification of a working relationship with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Establishment of a partnership with the Exploring Humanitarian Law Office of the Red Cross for conferences, workshops and other activities.
Creation and implementation of the Annual Robert H. Jackson Center Conference for Educators on Justice and Human Rights.
Future projects include partnering with The Bill of Rights Institute to bring a nationally renowned teacher training conference to the RHJC, a teaching fellowship program, and an annual summer exchange program for American teachers with The Goethe Institute of Germany.
The Robert H. Jackson Center was established to advance the legacy of Justice Jackson through education, exhibitry and pursuing the relevance of his ideas for current and future generations. For information about these or other center programs, contact the Jackson Center at 483-6646.
