Mark Finchum

Education:
BS, Communications, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
MS, Curriculum & Instruction, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Social Studies teacher with 23 years of experience
Currently doctoral candidate, Social Science Education, UTK College of Education

Awards:
Middle School Teacher of the Year, Jefferson County
Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award, Jefferson County
Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Award, TCSS
Sequoyah Award, East TN Indian League
American History Teacher of the Year, Andrew Bogle Chapter, DAR
Tennessee's American History Teacher of the Year, State DAR Award
Native American Eagle Award                                          

Membership:
Member, Tennessee Geographic Alliance
Past president and current board member, Tennessee Council for the Social Studies
Past board member, National Council for the Social Studies
Founder, "Teaching American Indian History, Culture, and Current Events" NCSS Community
Past member, Tennessee History Day Advisory Committee                                                                          President and Program Chair, Jefferson County Historical Society
Active member, New Market Baptist Church
Past board member and former Vice-President, Governor John Sevier Memorial Association
Past member, Advisory Board, James White Fort
Past member, Volunteer Landing Living History Task Force
Past member, Advisory Board, WBIR Television 

Native Activities:
Founder and President, Indian Creek Productions, Inc.
Founder, East Tennessee Indian League, Inc.
Past member, Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs
Walked "Great Indian Warpath" across East Tennessee
Participant, Cherokee History and Culture Institute, Museum of the Cherokee Indian                         Participant, Cherokee Nation History Class
Participant, Native Nations Procession, Opening of National Museum of the American Indian
Founder, "Teaching American Indian History, Culture, and Current Events" community (NCSS)
Guest Editor, American Indian theme issue, "Social Studies and the Young Learner" (NCSS)
Published Author, "Social Studies and the Young Learner," and Tennessee Associaton of Middle Schools journal
Received name in ceremony with Elder Richard Crowe on the Oconaluftee River
Cherokee Name: di-de-yo-hv-s-gi  no-le  ga-wo-ni  s-gi
(English Translation: Teacher and Storyteller)

Hobbies and Interests:
University of Tennessee sports
Science Fiction, especially Star Trek