Philly Leader

Archdiocese of Philadelphia issued the following on Nov. 5

Mr. John Corrigan, Roman Catholic High School’s Social Studies Department Chair, Recognized by the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies

Mr. John Corrigan, the Social Studies Department Chair, at Roman Catholic High School was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS) with its prestigious President’s Award. The ceremony took place virtually as a result of the current pandemic environment during PCSS’s 67th annual conference.

Mr. Corrigan received the honor for involving his students in Draw the Lines PA (DTL), a program designed to end gerrymandering in the Commonwealth by allowing students to draw their own legislative district maps. He has worked with DTL since the program’s inception in the Fall of 2018 and is responsible for more than 200 completed maps from his students. He was nominated for his award by staff of DTL, a nonpartisan resource for Pennsylvanians who want to end gerrymandering. Mr. Corrigan is described by Justin Villere, DTL Managing Director, as “an innovative teacher who is very focused on hands-on learning from his students as they learn how to be civically engaged.”

Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education said, “We would like to congratulate Mr. John Corrigan on this well-deserved achievement.” Sister continued, “He has truly had a remarkable impact on Roman Catholic’s students and on his colleagues.”

PCSS is the statewide umbrella organization for Social Studies in Pennsylvania.  As an advocate for social studies at all levels of education, PCSS promotes the analysis, dissemination, and evaluation of instructional materials and programs for effective social studies education in the Commonwealth.  In addition, the organization makes recommendations on certification requirements for educators involved in teaching social studies.  Most importantly, PCSS assists local social studies educators in their professional development and cooperates with schools, school districts, intermediate units, and other interested groups to support great social studies educators honored.

For a picture of Mr. John Corrigan, please email commof@archphila.org. 

Original source can be found here