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The History of The National Science Education Leadership Association
formerly The National Science Supervisors Associaton
By Robert Fariel
Chapter 3 Problems of Growth
A. C. Brewer
1967-1968
NSSA initiated list of science supervisors who had expertise in areas of science, supervision, the classroom and a host of other topics in 1968. Members were to write to these "experts" for prepared papers or advice. This program was coordinated by Edwin Smith. The program was called Barter and Exchange. It was later shortened to BAREX.
The problem with NSTA handling the NSSA membership continued to be a problem for the NSSA. Dues were sent to NSTA and the NSTA would send a lump sum check to NSSA. The delays resulted in the NSSA never knowing who all its members were and if they had renewed. NSSA finally asked new members to send their application directly to Don Fails, the first NSSA Membership Chairperson.
Robert Walker
1968-1969
NSSA now actively began to solicit science supervisory groups to affiliate. The feeling was that affiliates would bring new members into the NSSA fold. By March of 1969, the NSSA had an additional membership problem: the organization had started small, but now had grown so that there was increasing difficulty with communication with the membership. It was time for a re-examination of the aims and purposes of the organization.
Norman P. Taylor
1969-1970
The by laws needed to be changed to deal with affiliation by other science supervisory organizations. The by laws left the annual meeting responsibility to the Past President when most of the Executive Board felt the President Elect should have the responsibility.
The highlight each ]year was the Science supervisors conference held in Boulder, CO with funding by NSF.
Francis X. Finigan
1970-1971
A Newsletter Editor was found and three additional members served on the editorial staff. The rationale was that when the Newsletter Editor stepped down, one of the three editorial staff would move into the editor's job.
The Newsletter continued to include professional articles when they were submitted. Barter and Exchange (BAREX) continued to be a success under the direction of Edwin Smith. Edwin made changes in the program by serving as the clearing house for all papers submitted (See Figure 2 on pages ...)
John Rosemergy
1971-1972
In 1971, it was decided that t the Past President should receive an award for the three years of service to the association.
At the beginning of 1972, the United States economy was in poor health. Cuts in education were common and this resulted in many articles being written entitled "Science Supervisors: Endangered Species." This was a cry to be heard again years later.
Kenneth Horn
1972-1973
The by laws of the NSSA were revised in 1974 to more accurately describe the purposes of the organization which are listed below:
To stimulate, identify, recognize and to aid in the development of efficient and effective supervisory practices as an instrument for the improvement of science education.
To enhance the professional competence and status of science supervisors.
To provide opportunities for science supervisors to discuss and to take action on matters of common interest and concern.
To facilitate communication between science supervisors.
To stimulate and aid in the development of curriculum materials.
Since the Newsletter was the major means of communication to the membership, it was imperative to get a replacement for Lou Finsand, who had served as editor so ably for several years.
Several issues of the Newsletter were never published until a new editor could be found and re-established in a new location.
Edwin Smith
1973-1974
Edwin Smith became President Elect and had to relinquish his job of running BAREX, but BAREX continued.
Membership was still a problem. Billing was done by the NSTA, membership checks were sent to the Secretary-Treasurer of the NSSA and a membership card was sent by the Membership Chairperson. This resulted in delays and mistakes.
The recently appointed Newsletter Editor received a new supervisory work assignment so a replacement was needed. The Newsletter contained less and less NSSA material and more and more NSTA information. Many of the affiliates of the NSSA were very cooperative in providing information for the Newsletter.
Serafino Giuliani
1974-1975
The Executive Committee saw the need to provide a membership directory, something that had been lacking for several years.
Warren Classon
1975-1976
It was reported that membership in the NSSA was approximately 500 members. NSSA had lost almost 300 members that had been previously reported. This was due to many factors, some of which were:
Absence of a membership directory.
Reduced number of Newsletters
The NSTA handling of membership
Lack of coordination between organizations.
Members not renewed were being carried on the rolls.
Affiliates were contributing to the Newsletter, but were not pushing membership.
There was nor coordination as to who the affiliates actually were.
There were several bright lights for NSSA. NSF and the NSSA teamed up to provide a Summer Leadership Institute. A membership directory was produced at the end of 1975 and distributed to all the membership.
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