State council recognizes Eagle Hill educator

F-M educator Beck Stephens stands with Eagle Hill Middle School Assistant Principal Elizabeth Smith.
F-M educator Rebecca Stephens (right) stands with Eagle Hill Middle School Assistant Principal Elizabeth Smith.

During its 85th annual convention, New York State Council for the Social Studies (NYSCSS) awarded long-time Fayetteville-Manlius School District educator Rebecca Stephens with the 2022-23 Outstanding Middle School Social Studies Classroom Teacher Award.

NYSCSS presents this award each year to a grade 6-8 teacher or librarian who not only uses instructional materials and strategies creatively and effectively,  but also fosters a spirit of inquiry and the development of democratic beliefs, values, and skills needed for citizenship in school and community.

This is Stephens’ 26th year teaching seventh-grade social studies at Eagle Hill Middle School.

To bring learning to life, she often incorporates into her academic lessons programs from Fort Ticonderoga, Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Erie Canal Museum, National Constitution Center, Mount Vernon, and local historical societies.