Lecturer awarded Hilda Taba Award for significant contribution to social studies in California

School of Education Lecturer Bruce Baron (B.A. '74) received the 2020 Hilda Taba Award from the California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS) for "exemplary skills, dedication, and commitment to high quality social studies education."

The Hilda Taba award is the Council for Social Studies' highest honor, and is awarded to a Californian who has made a significant contribution to social studies education in California.  

“Bruce has been an integral fixture at Southern California schools and the School of Education’s teacher preparation program for decades,” said Richard Arum, dean and professor at the School of Education. “He has proven year after year the importance of teacher educators; the tutelage, mentorship and guidance he has given aspiring teachers at UCI is an inspiration to us all.”

Baron has taught the History/Social Science Methods course at the UCI School of Education for 25 years.

​"As a methods instructor, Bruce has inspired a generation of social science teachers to promote historical thinking in classrooms in middle and high schools throughout California," said Virginia Panish, director of teacher education at UCI. "In fact, the only thing that surpasses Bruce’s passion for teaching the importance of historical thinking, is the care and support he extends to social science candidates and alumni."

The Hilda Taba award is yet another acknowledgement of Baron's productive and illustrious career. After attending UCLA and the University of Nairobi in Kenya and receiving his B.A. from UCI, Baron began his educational career working in low-SES schools at both the elementary and secondary level as a member of the National Teacher Corps program. He went on to teach at the elementary, middle and high school level before serving as a school principal at both the elementary and middle school level. In 1989, Baron received his teaching credential from UCI. 

As a principal, Baron led South Lake Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District to No. 1 in the OC Register's ranking of all middle schools in Orange County. South Lake was the only school to be ranked in the top three for the first four years the paper compiled such rankings, based on a review of state-mandated educational data.

"Bruce is so deserving of this award," said Jerome Judd, UCI Single Subject Supervisor for English. "He has had such a positive influence on so many students and teachers at the elementary, secondary, and university levels and such an impact on our educational community."

In the 1980s-90s, Baron was actively engaged in multicultural education and acted as a consultant to address and ameliorate inter-ethnic tensions that existed at secondary schools throughout Southern California. His work was recognized by the Orange County Human Relations Commission with a Certificate of Commendation in recognition of “contributions and efforts to cultivate genuine understanding and appreciation for the ideals of equality, human rights and justice.”

Baron also co-authored the book, What Did You Learn In School Today: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Best Possible Education, which was published by Warner Books and endorsed by groups including the College Board, National PTA, and the National Institute for Education. The book was later adopted by the Consumers’ Union and published by Consumer Reports Magazine as their parent guide to Education in the United States.

​Baron will be honored and presented with his award at the 59th California Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference in Costa Mesa, Friday, February 28. 

​The Hilda Taba Award is named for Hilda Taba, a university professor at San Francisco State University who significantly influenced education and is internationally renowned for her work in “concept development” in the social studies.