During its annual spring awards ceremony, Central New York Council for the Social Studies (CNYCSS) recognized a long-time Fayetteville-Manlius School District educator.
On May 17, the council presented Eagle Hill Middle School social studies teacher John Kennedy with the Outstanding Middle School Educator Co-Award. The award recognizes his leadership, professional standards and work in social studies education.
Kennedy teaches eighth grade at Eagle Hill, a position he has held for 21 years.
CNYCSS presents this award each year to a grade 6-8 teacher or librarian who not only uses instructional materials and strategies creatively and effectively, but also fosters a spirit of inquiry and the development of democratic beliefs, values, and skills needed for citizenship in school and community.
Mary Kate Lonergan, who also teaches eighth grade at Eagle Hill, nominated Kennedy for the award.
“He teaches to empower his students to become civically engaged,” Lonergan said in her nomination letter to CNYCSS. “He provides many enriching opportunities for students to develop their own passion for social studies.”
CNYCSS is a regional social studies professional organization established to provide services for K-12 teachers with a bridge to higher education, according to the organization’s website. The general purpose of CNYCSS is to provide a network and a forum for social studies educators to talk about teaching pedagogy and academic content.
