38th Annual CCSS Conference -
Diving Deep: The Confluence of Place, Identity, & Belonging Monday, March 2nd, 2026 ~ History Colorado
Diving Deep: The Confluence of Place, Identity, and Belonging invites K–12 social studies educators to explore the dynamic intersections of geography, culture, and self in shaping how students understand the world and their place within it. This conference centers on the idea that social studies is not merely about facts or timelines, but about cultivating a sense of rootedness, critical awareness, and agency. Through keynote addresses, hands-on workshops, and collaborative sessions, participants will examine how place—whether local, global, physical, or imagined—shapes identity and influences narratives of inclusion, exclusion, resistance, and resilience.
Educators will engage with frameworks that foreground culturally sustaining pedagogy, Indigenous knowledge systems, migration stories, and community-based learning as vehicles to foster belonging in the classroom and beyond. Whether unpacking how borders are drawn, how public spaces reflect historical memory, or how students navigate their multiple identities, this conference encourages teachers to “dive deep” into curriculum and practice that affirm students’ lived experiences. Together, we will reimagine social studies education as a transformative discipline where every learner sees themselves reflected, heard, and valued.
Our keynote speaker this year will be Tara Roberts, National Geographic Explorer, podcaster, and author of Written on the Waters. We hope you will join us to explore, learn and reflect at our 38th annual conference.
Keynote Speaker - Tara Roberts