Prince William County Educator Named VA's Social Studies Teacher Of The Year

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — A teacher at Pennington Traditional School has been named the 2026 Virginia Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

Erin Merrill, a social studies teacher at the Manassas-area school, received the honor during the Virginia Council for the Social Studies conference at William & Mary's School of Education in Williamsburg, according to Prince William County Public Schools. The award recognizes contributions to social studies education and leadership in the profession.

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The Virginia Council for the Social Studies is the state's affiliate of the century-old National Council for the Social Studies, a professional association for educators.

Merrill said she focuses on helping students develop the skills needed to participate in civic life, including forming informed opinions, listening to opposing viewpoints and getting involved in their communities.

Merrill has helped develop curriculum materials for PWCS, serves on Virginia's curriculum materials review committee and created an online community for civics teachers that has grown to more than 4,000 members. Her LinkedIn profile says she's taught within Prince William County Public Schools for 14 years.

The Virginia Council for the Social Studies award is separate from the Virginia Department of Education's statewide Teacher of the Year program, which recognizes educators across subject areas.

The Pennington Traditional School was recently ranked third best in the state.

See more: VA's Best Middle Schools Ranked In New Analysis