Central New York Council for the Social Studies
2025 Annual Conference
Identity and Instruction:
Perspectives from the Local to the Global
Thursday, October 23, 2025
8:00am - 2:20pm
Drumlin's Country Club
800 Nottingham Rd, Syracuse, NY 13224
Keynote Address
Teaching Invisible Minorities: Immigrant Narratives in the Social Studies Classroom
Junko Takeda, Professor of History and History Faculty Chair, Syracuse University
Before Junko Takeda became a historian of early modern France and empire, she grew up as an undocumented immigrant child facing multiple deportation hearings. The lecture will address how Takeda’s roles as teacher and mentor led her on parallel paths: rethinking how she teaches history and civic engagement, and how she has committed herself to immigrant advocacy and memoir writing. While sharing elements of her memoir, she will also comment on the importance of centering immigrant narratives and fighting immigrant invisibility and erasure in education. And she highlights the kinds of themes (model minority myths, ethnic imposter syndrome, undocumented human rights, solidarity work, anti-immigrant discrimination, generational trauma, resilience) that she engages with in her writing and teaching.
Schedule
8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast & Brief Remarks
8:50 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Keynote Address
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Session A Presentations
11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m Session B Presentations
12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. Lunch
1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. Session C Presentations
Presentation Descriptions
Session A Presentations - 10:00 AM to 11:00 a.m.
A1: Developing Religious Literacy
Liz Burns Taormina, Educator, Institute for Curriculum Services
This interactive presentation explores the legal foundations in the United States for teaching about religion in schools, uses case studies to consider the very real challenges involved in teaching this topic, and provides both guidelines and compelling digital options for incorporating the study of religion into your classroom. Teachers of students at every level—elementary, middle and high school—will benefit from this session.
A2: Beyond Content: Scaffolding Regents Skills Across the School Year
Michael Knittel & Jordan Leedom, Teachers, Liverpool School District
The Regents exam hides essential skills inside its questions, and our job is to make those skills explicit for students. Join this session to learn practical ways to scaffold historical thinking skills across the school year, so students can confidently tackle tasks like identifying historical circumstances, analyzing point of view, and connecting cause and effect. Leave with a plan, adaptable activities, and fresh strategies to turn your students into skilled historical thinkers.
A3: Is the U.S. in a Constitutional Crisis?
Cora True-Frost, Professor of Law, Syracuse University
Research Assistant Stephanie Mangano
More information TBA
A4: Elementary Education Strand | Why is Syracuse Called the Salt City?: Inquiry and Local History in the Elementary Classroom
Nick Stamoulacatos, Director of Social Studies - Syracuse City School District
Colleen Mayberry, Elementary Social Studies Integration Coach - Syracuse City School District
Join SCSD educators in examining a 4th grade inquiry unit that will take a closer look at Syracuse’s salty past and bring history closer to home!
Session B Presentations - 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
B1: Exiles of Erin
Bob Searing, Curator of History, Onondaga Historical Association
This presentation will focus on Irish immigration and the particular experience of Irish immigrants in Syracuse. The presentation will touch on themes of nativism, labor, and assimilation.
B2: African Resources a Curse or a Boon: The Role of China and Multinational Companies in Africa
Godriver Odhiambo, PhD - Associate Professor of History at Le Moyne
Back by popular demand! After sharing a rich, detailed and compelling exploration of Colonialism in Africa at last year's conference, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Godriver Odhiambo again to our conference! This year, Professor Odhiambo will examine the modern legacy of Africa's experience with foreign powers and their control over labor and resources across the Continent. She will present new information on neocolonial trends in Africa, the ability of states to control their own development and prosperity and new "players" in the story, including China. Africa remains a critical and dynamic location for history, and Professor Odhiambo will share her first-hand perspective with us.
B3: Memory in the History Classroom – Learning Strategies and Primary Sources
Meredith Martin, Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology, Syracuse University
This session will focus on the positive and powerful applications of psychological research regarding memory – and memories - in the social studies classroom. Designed to help attendees develop successful strategies for student learning, the session will also explore how people remember – and misremember – emotionally salient events by looking at psychological research conducted following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
B4: Elementary Education Strand | Ozzy Loves Social Studies: Best Practices in Early Elementary Social Studies
Nick Stamoulacatos, Director of Social Studies - Syracuse City School District
Colleen Mayberry, Elementary Social Studies Integration Coach - Syracuse City School District
WARNING: This session is NOT designed to make you go off the rails on a crazy train, but instead to introduce you to another Ozzy…SCSD’s mascot for K-3 social studies! Learn how Ozzy helps teach students social studies literacy in the classroom.
Session C Presentations - 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
C1: Three Harriets: The Story of Extraordinary Women in the Oneida Community
Tom Guiler, Director of Museum Affairs, Oneida Community Mansion House
The Oneida Community was one of the most radical and successful utopian communes in American history. Much of this is due to the elevated status that women enjoyed inside this Community. Indeed, due to their radical conceptions of sex, family, and gender, women were afforded far more opportunities than their counterparts in the outside world. This presentation will explore women’s experiences in this Community through the biographies of three women named Harriet that both exemplify and complicate the lives of women in the Oneida Community.
C2: Ink, Imagination, and Inquiry: Graphic Novels in the Social Studies Classroom
Kristina Jeanneret & Justin Polly, Teachers, Fayetteville-Manlius School District
Graphic novels offer a powerful tool for teaching key concepts from the NYS Social Studies Framework by making complex historical events more engaging and accessible for students. Through visual storytelling, students develop historical thinking skills, grapple with multiple perspectives, and make meaningful connections to primary source themes. Attendees will walk away with two ready-to-use unit guides — one centered on The Jungle (Upton Sinclair/Kristina Gehrmann) and another based on They Called Us Enemy (George Takei) — to immediately implement in their own classrooms.
C3: Using Visuals to Motivate, Encourage Deep Thinking, and Make Connections
Donna Merlau, Education Consultant
Visuals can be used to capture students’ attention, ignite their curiosity, and engage them in deeper thinking that encourages them to make connections. Participants will engage in a series of discussions and activities around visuals that highlight selecting for a purpose, the need to understand a visual’s backstory, and considerations to think about when planning and using visuals. Handouts will be provided and the PowerPoint will be available to participants after the presentation.
C4: Elementary Education Strand | TBA
Nick Stamoulacatos, Director of Social Studies - Syracuse City School District
Colleen Mayberry, Elementary Social Studies Integration Coach - Syracuse City School District
More information TBA
Please note:
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Registering with your district through MyLearningPlan or other registration system is NOT registering with CNYCSS. You must complete conference registration through our registration and payment portal at cnycss.com. Please do not delay in submitting the proper paperwork with your district for approval and to process payment.
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Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025. There will be no late-registration or walk-ins allowed.
- Payment is due by Monday, October 20, 2025, or your registration may be subject to cancellation.
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Deadlines are firm as the CNYCSS is responsible for guaranteed meal counts and payments with the venue.
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NO refunds will be issued for ANY costs after Sunday, October 20, 2025, unless the entire convention is cancelled by CNYCSS personnel. Written notification via email of your cancellation must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025, by VP for Membership Kristina Jeanneret at kjeanneret@fmschools.org.
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If you are unable to attend the conference due to a last-minute or unexpected situation, you or your district may designate another individual to attend in your place. Your name and the name of this individual must be sent via email to VP for Membership Kristina Jeanneret at kjeanneret@fmschools.org before the conference starts. CNYCSS will not be responsible for any additional considerations or arrangements in this type of a situation.
- CTLE forms will be available for attendees upon conclusion of the conference
