Joe Schmidt
Founder of Joe Schmidt Social Studies LLC, Senior Director of Teacher Program for the Bill of Rights Institute, and Vice President of the National Council for the Social Studies
I believe Decision Education can have a profound impact on today's students, who are tomorrow's workforce, community members, leaders, and parents. In today's rapidly changing world, driven by AI, automation, and constant innovation, young people face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. My own work has explored integrating AI into best practices for teaching and learning, and I see Decision Education as a crucial complement to these technological advancements.
Joe Schmidt is the founder of Joe Schmidt Social Studies LLC and the co-author of two books: Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities and The Social Studies FIELD Guide. His experience spans pre-K through college, fostering connection among social studies educators across grade levels, content areas, and geographic locations. He has collaborated with organizations like Colonial Williamsburg, Learning for Justice, the National Council for Geographic Education, iCivics, ThinkerAnalytix, Jump$tart, and National Geographic.
Joe taught high school social studies for nine years before becoming a district curriculum leader, and later serving as the Social Studies Specialist for the Maine Department of Education. He is currently the Senior Director of Teacher Programs for the Bill of Rights Institute.
Joe is the Vice President of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and will assume the role as NCSS President starting July 1, 2026. He has chaired and co-chaired numerous NCSS committees and task forces. A frequent presenter at state, regional, and national conferences, Joe has consulted with organizations and districts across more than half the country and received awards for his service to social studies education.
