Jennifer Carlson
Director of Sales
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Our Why
We exist because we believe social studies education is essential to a thriving democracy. Our why is rooted in the conviction that when students learn HOW to think rather than WHAT to think they become the leaders our world needs.
We partner with districts to build capacity at every level: engaging every student, empowering every teacher, and elevating every leader to strengthen the heart of every school: meaningful teaching and learning.
We exist because
we believe social
studies education
is essential to a
thriving democracy.
we believe social
studies education
is essential to a
thriving democracy.
Our Instructional Values
Students Own Their Learning
Students pose questions, analyze ideas, explore solutions, share discoveries, and communicate and act on their new learning.
Students Interact with Text and Visuals
Students engage directly with primary and secondary sources, digital media, and visual data to analyze evidence and build understanding.
Geography Is Foundational
Students use maps, graphs, charts, and geographic tools to identify patterns, make predictions, and build context to understand the world.
Multiple Narratives Matter
Students encounter diverse perspectives, see themselves reflected in their learning, and develop empathy through thoughtful discourse.
All Learners Are Considered
Students receive the supports they need to access their learning and extension opportunities to apply their knowledge at new levels.
Our instructional values are the bridge between our purpose and our practice. They translate our belief in teaching students how to think, not what to think, into meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for informed and engaged citizenship.
Our Commitment
We walk alongside schools to support the people at the heart of learning: students, teachers, and leaders. Our instructional values are organized within a clear framework that helps educators plan with purpose, teach with intention, and reflect with clarity.
Through thoughtful curriculum and meaningful professional learning, we provide practical strategies that translate evidence-based practices into daily classroom practice.
Our Team
Leadership Team
Guided by a shared vision for the power of social studies education, our Leadership Team advances our mission to engage students, empower teachers, and elevate leaders.
Luis Castro
Director of Operations
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Angela Fountas
Director of Marketing
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Alex Gradinger
Controller
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Mark Gutierrez
Art Director
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Dr. Montra L. Rogers
Director of Partnerships & Instruction
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Bill Walter
Head of Content
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David Weiner
Chief Executive Officer
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Dr. Aaron Willis
Chief Learning Officer
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Partnerships & Instruction Team
Through collaborative consulting and professional learning, our Partnerships & Instruction team empowers leaders and teachers to build lasting instructional capacity.
Jamie Filipow
Partnerships & Instruction Coordinator
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LaChardra “Chardra” McBride
Partnerships & Instruction Coordinator
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Regina Wallace
Partnerships & Instruction Coordinator
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Curriculum Specialists
Working alongside educators as trusted advisors, our Curriculum Specialists help schools choose the right solutions and ensure they have what they need to succeed.
Lori Burger
Christina Carroll
Summer Carter
Kimberly Fudge
Cindy Gosser
Jason Ihlenfeld
Tammy Mcilveen
Lauren O Brien
Madison Westphal
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Our History
For more than 60 years, Social Studies School Service has partnered with educators in service of a stronger democracy. As classrooms, technologies, and teaching practices have evolved, so have we, growing from a trusted resource provider into an independent publisher dedicated to meaningful social studies education. Explore our timeline to see how our history continues to shape our future.
1965
Our Story Begins
Social Studies School Service is founded to connect educators with high-quality social studies resources.
1970
Filmstrip Distribution
We introduced filmstrips into classrooms as a common resource for teaching social studies.
1975
Saturdays at Social Studies
Teachers from the greater LA area begin visiting our showroom to explore resources in person.
1985
20 Years of the Big Orange Catalog
Our iconic Big Orange Catalog celebrates 20 years of helping educators discover engaging resources for their classrooms.
1992
A New Home
As the company grows, we move to a larger home on Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City, with a parking lot large enough to accommodate a big sale, another way to interact with local educators.
1995
Social Studies Goes Online
We launch socialstudies.com, giving educators a new way to discover and order resources for their classrooms.
1999
Expanding Our Reach
By the end of the decade, our 40 catalogs feature more than 10,000 supplemental resources from nearly 1,000 publishers.
2002
A New Chapter
David and Aaron take the helm of Social Studies School Service, beginning a new era of growth and expanding into publishing.
2008 & 2009
MindSparks & Interact & Storypath
We welcome MindSparks, Interact, and Storypath, expanding our offerings with primary source-based resources and immersive narrative-based simulations.
2009
Teaching About 9/11
In partnership with the September 11th Education Trust, we also create a comprehensive curriculum to help educators teach about 9/11 and its lasting impact.
2010
Good Year Books
We welcome Good Year Books, which was established in 1973, expanding our K–8 collection with a rich range of supplemental resources across social studies and other subject areas.
2011
Freedom: A History of US
We publish acclaimed author Joy Hakim’s Freedom: A History of US, exploring the story of American freedom, democracy, and citizenship.
2012
Active Classroom
We launch Active Classroom, bringing together curated content, primary sources, and digital tools on one learning platform.
2013
The Center for Learning
We welcome The Center for Learning, founded over 40 years ago, adding high school ELA and social studies resources ranging from literature guides to Advanced Placement preparation.
2014
Nystrom and Cram
We welcome Nystrom and George F. Cram Co., which have been providing schools with the highest quality educational maps, globes, and other geography tools since 1903 and 1867, respectively.
2014
A New Warehouse
We open our Gardena warehouse, expanding our operations to better serve schools and educators nationwide.
2015
J. Weston Walch
We welcome J. Weston Walch, adding accessible middle school social studies resources, including Everyday Life, Power Basics, and Daily Skill-Builders.
2019
Young Citizens
We publish Young Citizens, an elementary social studies program designed to build knowledge, skills, and the foundations of informed citizenship.
2026
Investigate
We launch Investigate, a game changer for high school social studies that brings together rigor, clarity, and student ownership.
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