Welcome
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Jennifer (Jenny) Shorten is the current
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It is a great honor for me to assume the leadership of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies. This is an exciting time to be an educator and particularly a social science educator. I do not take my position lightly and pledge to work tirelessly for the social studies community of Tennessee.
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. I graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a Master’s in History and Education. My husband and I (with our three children) left South Africa in early 2003 and have been in Memphis ever since. We absolutely love Memphis and proudly became American citizens in 2015. I am currently the Social Studies Department Chair and Director of Enrichment and Electives at Evangelical Christian School. I also serve on the Board of the Tennessee Geographic Alliance.
I believe the mission of social studies educators is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. Students need to develop a core of knowledge and skills drawn from many academic disciplines, learn how to analyze their own and others’ opinions on important issues, and become motivated to participate in civic and community life as active and informed citizens. The Tennessee Council for the Social Studies is here to advocate for and celebrate excellence in the teaching and learning of social studies.
In this age of social media, we seem to have forgotten how to listen when people speak and how to compromise when necessary. We have forgotten that there are multiple sides to an argument and many viewpoints that need to be considered. We have an opportunity as social studies educators to demonstrate that viewpoints from multiple sides are not just inevitable, they are imperative in any democratic system. We need to encourage young people to be sincere and appreciate differences. This is our time to demonstrate civil discourse and to show the value of truth, wisdom, and experience when analyzing ideas and viewpoints.
In recent years, the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has been emphasized, sometimes to the detriment of the social studies. While STEM is no doubt important, the importance of social studies education cannot be ignored as it is able to provide insight into how science and innovation work and equip students with analytical and communication skills that are important throughout many industries and organizations
Ultimately, there should not be a choice between STEM and social studies. Society needs both in order to formulate effective solutions. It is all about collaboration and social studies embraces an interdisciplinary approach. It is clear that no subject area can stand alone, an island unto itself, and that social studies can and must play an important role in all disciplines.
I look forward to working with you all as we navigate this world of social media. Let our voices be heard. Friend us on Facebook, share best practices, tweet, blog, and always #tcss.
Sincerely,
Jenny Shorten
President of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. I graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a Master’s in History and Education. My husband and I (with our three children) left South Africa in early 2003 and have been in Memphis ever since. We absolutely love Memphis and proudly became American citizens in 2015. I am currently the Social Studies Department Chair and Director of Enrichment and Electives at Evangelical Christian School. I also serve on the Board of the Tennessee Geographic Alliance.
I believe the mission of social studies educators is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. Students need to develop a core of knowledge and skills drawn from many academic disciplines, learn how to analyze their own and others’ opinions on important issues, and become motivated to participate in civic and community life as active and informed citizens. The Tennessee Council for the Social Studies is here to advocate for and celebrate excellence in the teaching and learning of social studies.
In this age of social media, we seem to have forgotten how to listen when people speak and how to compromise when necessary. We have forgotten that there are multiple sides to an argument and many viewpoints that need to be considered. We have an opportunity as social studies educators to demonstrate that viewpoints from multiple sides are not just inevitable, they are imperative in any democratic system. We need to encourage young people to be sincere and appreciate differences. This is our time to demonstrate civil discourse and to show the value of truth, wisdom, and experience when analyzing ideas and viewpoints.
In recent years, the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) has been emphasized, sometimes to the detriment of the social studies. While STEM is no doubt important, the importance of social studies education cannot be ignored as it is able to provide insight into how science and innovation work and equip students with analytical and communication skills that are important throughout many industries and organizations
Ultimately, there should not be a choice between STEM and social studies. Society needs both in order to formulate effective solutions. It is all about collaboration and social studies embraces an interdisciplinary approach. It is clear that no subject area can stand alone, an island unto itself, and that social studies can and must play an important role in all disciplines.
I look forward to working with you all as we navigate this world of social media. Let our voices be heard. Friend us on Facebook, share best practices, tweet, blog, and always #tcss.
Sincerely,
Jenny Shorten
President of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies
TCSS wishes to thank all of the sponsors for their support of our successful annual conference this past March in Franklin.
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
Belle Meade Plantation
Bridgeview Educ Resources
BVI Currents of Change
Country Music Hall of Fame
DBQ Project
Elections Support & Civic Engagement (TN Secretary of State)
Federal Reserve Bank
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
Gibb Smith Education
Heifer International
Historic Travellers Rest
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Lincoln Memorial University
MacMillan Publishing
McGraw Hill Education
Nashville Civic Design Center
National Geographic Learning/Cengage
Pearson
Resor, Cynthia (Author)
Social Studies Services
Studies Weekly (aka American Legacy Publishing)
Teaching With Primary Sources (MTSU)
Tennesseans for Student Success
Tennessee Bar Association
Tennessee Education Association (TEA)
Tennessee Geographic Alliance (TGA)
Tennessee History for Kids
Tennessee State Library & Archives
Tennessee State Museum
Tennessee World Affiars Council
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
Belle Meade Plantation
Bridgeview Educ Resources
BVI Currents of Change
Country Music Hall of Fame
DBQ Project
Elections Support & Civic Engagement (TN Secretary of State)
Federal Reserve Bank
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
Gibb Smith Education
Heifer International
Historic Travellers Rest
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Lincoln Memorial University
MacMillan Publishing
McGraw Hill Education
Nashville Civic Design Center
National Geographic Learning/Cengage
Pearson
Resor, Cynthia (Author)
Social Studies Services
Studies Weekly (aka American Legacy Publishing)
Teaching With Primary Sources (MTSU)
Tennesseans for Student Success
Tennessee Bar Association
Tennessee Education Association (TEA)
Tennessee Geographic Alliance (TGA)
Tennessee History for Kids
Tennessee State Library & Archives
Tennessee State Museum
Tennessee World Affiars Council