Can you share a specific success story where your organization helped science education leaders overcome a challenge?

PASCO supports district leaders moving from high-quality science curriculum adoption to classroom implementation. One middle school teacher shared how she uses PASCO’s Certified Version of OpenSciEd to make hands-on investigations more manageable through organized resources, equipment, and technology. Hear about her experience, including how the  PASCO Portal© supports lesson preparation.  

What strategies or resources have been most effective in supporting science education leaders through your programs or services?

Our most effective strategy is listening first. Science leaders understand their communities and challenges better than we do. Their perspectives help us understand instructional goals and capacity while informing how we connect PASCO’s longstanding focus on hands-on investigation, data collection, and analysis with the vision of A Framework for K–12 Science Education and evolving classroom needs.  

How does your organization define and measure the success of science education leadership?

While PASCO does not directly measure the success of science education leaders, we look to sustained implementation, educator and leadership feedback, and long-term partnerships at a global scale as indicators that our resources and support are helping leaders advance their instructional goals. 

What innovative approaches has your organization taken to empower science education leaders in K-12 settings?

PASCO recently joined the National Academies’ CASTL-K12 Action Collaborative, expanding how we participate in conversations about K–12 science education. CASTL-K12 brings together leaders, researchers, and organizations to examine systemic challenges and share perspectives across the science education community. For PASCO, this creates an opportunity to contribute where appropriate while learning from expertise beyond our own.

How has your partnership with NSELA helped amplify your impact on science education leadership?

PASCO’s partnership with NSELA helps us listen to science education leaders and better understand systemic challenges. We recognize we can do more. By engaging with NSELA members, we hope to support efforts to address high school science teacher capacity, expanding access to meaningful elementary science experiences, and integrating core academic science within existing and emerging CTE pathways.

What advice would you give to district and state science supervisors looking to strengthen science education leadership in their schools?

Our experience reinforces the importance of listening to teachers, collaborating with science leaders, and maintaining open dialogue with publishers and education partners. Leaders help us better understand where resources meet classroom needs and where they do not. Communication among schools, states, researchers, and education partners helps all of us learn from one another and collectively advance science education.