DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate joined Governor Terry Branstad, the Iowa Council for Social Studies executive board, directors of the Iowa Geography Alliance and Iowa Council on Economic Education, and a handful of student leaders from Dallas-Center Grimes High School to recognize Iowa Social Studies Education Day at the State Capitol recently. An official proclamation was signed by Governor Branstad commemorating the day.

"The recognition of our state's social studies educators was greatly appreciated and serves as a reminder that social studies skills and content is vital to a lasting and vibrant democracy," said Jack Vanderflught, a Dallas Center-Grimes teacher and government advocate for the Iowa Council for the Social Studies. "The ICSS would like to thank the team at the Iowa Secretary of State's Office for their assistance throughout this process."

Along with attending Governor Branstad's proclamation signing ceremony, the group visited with Secretary of State Pate and discussed social studies with key members of the Iowa Legislature.

"I'm very proud of our partnership with social studies teachers across Iowa," Secretary of State Paul Pate said. "Engaging young people in the civics process is vital for the future of our Republic. We have worked very closely with them on our Caucus 101 and Elections 101 curricula and the Iowa Youth Straw Polls, and these educators do tremendous work in teaching our young people the importance of getting involved."

Iowa Social Studies Education Day in Iowa was recognized on March 1 and was done to align with the same week of the 170th anniversary of the Iowa Constitution being adopted by the state's Constitutional Convention and sent to the people of Iowa to ratify.

***A picture of the signing ceremony is available this link. Dallas Center-Grimes students pictured, from left to right include Katie Thompson, Ethan Dunn, Sydney Wager, Megan Eischeid, Shelby Freestone, Grace Judd.

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