Erin Gould, a social studies teacher at Wauwatosa East High School, has been named the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies (WCSS) Distinguished High School Teacher of the Year. The award, presented by WCSS – a nonprofit professional organization of social studies educators – recognizes exceptional teaching, dedication to students, and outstanding contributions to the field of social studies education.
Gould has been educating students for more than 25 years and is widely regarded by colleagues and students as a passionate, student-centered educator who brings history and civic life to the forefront of her classroom every day.
“Through the teaching of social studies we encourage students to make connections,” Gould said. “Connections between ideas and facts, but even more important, connections to their own lives. My hope is that my students carry these social studies connections for a lifetime – in the wild!”
That phrase – “in the wild” – has become something of a rallying cry in Gould's classroom, where her greatest joy comes from students discovering U.S. history and civics playing out in their everyday lives beyond school walls.
Nominators praised Gould for her tireless commitment to every student she teaches, her infectious enthusiasm for the subject, and her deep involvement in school committees focused on student success. In their nomination letters, colleagues described her as someone who “works for every student, every day” and called her “the epitome of a social studies teacher,” noting her engaging and rigorous lessons, encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, and unwavering dedication to student well-being.
“She doesn't showboat and doesn't realize the impact she has on her students, colleagues, and community alike,” one nominator wrote. “It is not every day that a teacher does what Erin Gould does.”
Colleagues also highlighted Gould's calm, supportive presence and her ability to make every student feel seen and heard – qualities they say set her apart as both an educator and a colleague.
The Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies promotes excellence in social studies education across the state through professional development, advocacy, and recognition programs like the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.