NSELA -

In this Issue

President's Message

NSELA Award Winners

NSTA Award Winners

2009 Summer Leadership Institute

2009 Professional Development Institute

Summary of Events in New Orleans

Meet New Board Members

Run for NSELA Office

ICASE News

Have you been getting NSELA emails? If not update your email address

Download a Membership Brochure: Page 1, Page 2

Calendar

June 28 - July 2, 2009
NSELA Summer Leadership Institute, Portland, ME

March 17, 2010
NSELA Professional Development Institute, Philadelphia

March 18-March 21, 2010, Philadelphia
NSTA Convention

NSELA Leadership Team

NSTA Award Winners

NSTA Announces Recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Service to Science Education Award

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching, has announced the recipients of its 2009 Teacher Awards Program, which honors K-12 teachers, professors, principals, and others for their outstanding achievement and innovative programs in science education.

This year, NSTA will present three individuals with its Distinguished Service to Science Education Award. This award recognizes NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching.

2009 NSTA Distinguished Service to Science Education Award recipients include:

Dr. Linda Atkinson, associate director of STEM partnerships for the K20 Center at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Atkinson has been a committed member and active contributor to the science education field for nearly four decades. In addition to having taught middle school science and high school chemistry, Atkinson has served as a district science curriculum director, site administrator, and a university instructor. She has also provided leadership at the state level on numerous committees to develop science standards and assessments and has been the co-principal investigator on several projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education and numerous state and local agencies. Atkinson has published several chapters and articles and has presented numerous papers at a variety of research conferences. Atkinson has also been recognized with awards throughout her career, including the John W. Renner Outstanding Science Leader Award from the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA). A dedicated NSTA member, Atkinson serves on several of the Association’s committees and is currently president of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA).

David Heil, president of David Heil & Associates (DHA) in Portland, Ore. Heil has a wide range of experience and leadership in science education. A longtime science educator, author and previous host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS science series, Newton’s Apple, Heil has also chaired numerous NSTA conferences and task forces and served on the association’s board of directors as its first division director of informal science education. Prior to establishing DHA, Heil was affiliated with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) for 13 years, serving as associated director from 1988-1996. Heil has also taught science and enrichment programs in grades 7-12, conducted research in plant biochemistry and radiochemistry, and worked for five years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has served on the board of directors of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) and the Keystone Center, is a past president of the Oregon Science Teachers Association (OSTA) and currently serves on the board of directors for the Aspen Science Center. Heil is also the recipient of several awards, including the Discovery Channel/NSTA Award for outstanding communication of science, the Oregon Business Journal’s Lighthouse Award and the Alumni Award of Excellence from Western Oregon University.

Anne Tweed, principal science consultant and director of the North Central Comprehensive Center at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) in Aurora, Colo. A highly active and dedicated leader in the science education community, Tweed began her professional work in a secondary science classroom in Colorado. In addition to having taught science for more than 25 years, Tweed has served as president of both NSTA and the Colorado Association of Science Teachers (CAST). She has also served on the planning committee for the 2009 NAEP Science Assessment, has written several science education articles and books, has written and received more than $50,000 in grants for science projects and materials for student use in and out of the classroom and currently serves as an adjunct professor for the Colorado School of Mines. Tweed was also a 1997 Finalist for the state of Colorado in the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program, was named the Outstanding Biology Teacher in 1992 by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) and the Distinguished High School Science Teacher for Colorado by CAST.

“NSTA awardees bring both passion and patience to the day-to-day teaching of science,” said Page Keeley, president, NSTA. “We honor these educators for their lifelong dedication and for instilling a sense of wonder in students through imaginative and innovative science education.”

Eric Walters Receives the Vernier Technology Award from the National Science Teachers Association

Eric Walters, a teacher at Marymount School of New York, in New York, NY was awarded the Vernier Technology Award. The award recognizes and rewards the innovative use of data collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld in the science classroom. A total of seven awards are presented: one award at the elementary level (grades K-5); two awards at the middle level (grades 6-8); three awards at the high school level (grades 9-12); and one award at the college level. Eric received his award at a special banquet and ceremony at NSTA's 57th National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans.

Walters challenges his students to explore the real world through inquiry-based data collection activities. He has integrated a wider variety of sensors in his physics curriculum and has developed new, innovative uses for probeware. To help his colleagues, he shows them how to integrate computer-based data collection into their curriculum.

"NSTA awardees represent the best and brightest in science education," said Page Keeley, president, NSTA. "We congratulate these outstanding educators and principals for their lifelong commitment to science education and for their innovative and creative approach to teaching our students science."

NSTA encourages science educators to apply for its 2010 Teacher Awards. Applications and information can be found online at www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx.