Kristy's Biography:
Kristy L. Snider has been teaching since 1997 in the Pocono Mountain School District. Mrs. Snider currently holds a bachelor's degree in history from Susquehanna University, and is working to complete a degree in educational leadership in addition to her master’s work already completed in secondary education and geography. She currently teaches geography at Pocono Mountain West Junior High School, along with several courses at Northampton Community College. She has taught American History and geography in her district, as well as civics, psychology, anthropology, and archeology at East Stroudsburg University’s Upward Bound Program, Northampton Community College, and Marywood University. She enjoyed being a member of the steering committee for Pennsylvania Geographic Education Alliance and has served as both a member of the board of directors and the secretary for PCSS. Each year, she judges and administers the state level questions for the National Geographic Bee. Kristy was awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award through National Council for Geography and traveled to Peru through a grant from NCGE, writing a follow-up article and lesson plans which appeared in “The Geography Teacher.” Kristy has served as a Fulbright Scholar, living and studying in Ghana for one month, as well as a earning a Gilder-Lehrman Scholarship to study the Revolutionary War, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant. Prior to teaching, she worked for the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission at Cornwall Iron Furnace, close to where she grew up. More recently, Kristy has spent time promoting fair funding for education through union work and leadership positions in Harrisburg with “Education Funding Works.”
Social Studies Statement of Purpose:
My mission as a social studies teacher is to prepare students to become productive members of a global society. As part of PCSS, I believe that the organization should continue to provide support and leadership to educators within the field to create positive learning experiences for our students. As we continue to compete in the world, students need an understanding of our systems of justice and creation as a country, but not without the ability to adapt and be present considering the challenges of today’s world. Students, teachers, and legislators must also gain recognition of cultures and the world around us, while honoring our basic rights. Students must be made aware of ways in which they can become part of their government and country; they should prepare to contribute meaningfully. It is of the utmost importance that we continue to teach our children the responsibilities that they have as citizens and to help them to explore the world successfully with open, and well taught minds. Educators in the field of social studies should continue to utilize a variety of techniques to produce upstanding citizens who can contribute to society as a result of their civic beliefs and evaluative abilities that have been gained through their education. At the primary levels, implementation of social studies into the reading curriculum might provide a broader appreciation and base knowledge for our students, while fostering awareness of current events, geography, cultures, and government systems. As such, we as educators must promote the importance of a social studies education for each child, we must support one another, and we must take an active role in our communities.