NSELA catalyzes leadership to maximize effective science teaching and learning in a complex and changing environment. If you are receiving this email and are not a member, we encourage you to join us and get involved!

October 2025

Contribute to the Newsletter!

We want to hear from you! Every month we'll be featuring a Leadership Spotlight to honor and appreciate the expertise in our NSELA community. Use the form below to nominate a colleague (or yourself)! Here are some interview questions to consider as part of your submission.

Do you have an announcement you'd like to share in the newsletter? You can also use the form to submit a short announcement. Please note that announcements must contain opportunities that are free and available to all. If you would like to put an advertisement in the newsletter, please visit the website.

Leadership Spotlight and Announcement Submission

EDUCATE
Keeping current with news in science education.

Policy Brief

The Education Report is a weekly publication on education policy news from the Bose Public Affairs Group. The Oct. 24 issue has several items that may be of interest to NSELA members, including:

How the federal government shutdown is impacting education, including potential disruptions to November payments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and reductions in staff at the federal Department of Education.
An event from the Center for Global Development on the importance of elementary school, including the economic returns that come from investment in early learning.
Two panels on cell phones and AI, one focused on student well-being and one on student achievement.
A bill advancing through the US Senate to establish a National STEM Week.
Analysis from the Urban Institute on the impacts of the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion.

NSELA members can read the full issue at the link below.

Read the Education Report

ADVOCATE
Connecting with NSELA committees, events, and leaders.

Leadership Spotlight

Samantha Agoos - State Science Supervisor and STEM Lead, Colorado Department of Education

Samantha (Sam) Agoos has served as the State Science Supervisor and STEM Lead for the Colorado Department of Education since 2023. Sam leads statewide science education initiatives, impacting 880,000+ students, and leads the STEM Team for the Standards and Instructional Support office.

What has been a success of your leadership in Colorado that you are most proud of?

I’m most proud of the relationships and networks we’re co-constructing across Colorado. Our educators are incredible; they're hardworking, creative, and deeply committed to their students. Elevating their work and celebrating their successes is the best part of my job.

One tangible outcome of this collaboration is the Colorado K–12 Science and Technology Work-Based Learning Resource Toolkit, which we co-developed with Colorado educators, Angela Landrum, and Dr. Sara Cooper. We’re also expanding the Assessment Library with open-source, work-based learning tasks to increase access and opportunity for all.

What has been a challenge for you as a leader?

Meeting the diverse and often competing needs of K–12 educators. Every district, school, and classroom has its own context, and balancing those needs while staying aligned with state goals is a constant challenge. That said, it’s a meaningful challenge. It pushes me to provide individualized support and, more importantly, to be a better listener.

What’s the best advice anyone has given you as a science leader?

“Just focus on doing your job well.” It’s simple, but powerful. In other words: stay grounded, stay focused, and stay aligned with your core values.

Why did you join NSELA and what are you most looking forward to as a member?

I joined NSELA to be part of a community that shares my passion for science education leadership. I’m looking forward to learning from others, contributing to the field, and engaging in thought-provoking conversations that challenge my thinking.

Talking Leadership Tuesday: Your Weekly Forum for Science Education Solutions

Are you facing complex challenges in implementing new science standards, ensuring equitable access to science instruction, or developing leadership skills with teachers and coaches? Then join your peers every week for Talking Leadership Tuesday on the NSELA CommUnity member portal!

The CommUnity Hub discussion forum is designed to move beyond simply identifying obstacles, creating a dedicated space for leaders like you to crowdsource ideas and solutions from other NSELA members from around the country. Each week, we launch a targeted conversation starter on a current issue in science education, allowing you to share your successful strategies, ask important how-to questions, and build your professional network with other science leaders that can impact your science program.

Don't lead in isolation: log in and contribute your voice to the conversation shaping the future of science education leadership! Your username and password for the CommUnity Hub is the same email address and password you use to access your membership profile on the main NSELA page.

Visit the CommUnity Member Portal

Write for the Leadership Matters Column - Now in All Three NSTA Publications!

NSELA members now have the opportunity to submit a column for Leadership Matters in Science and Children, NSTA's K-5 science publication, Science Scope, NSTA's 6-8 science publication, and The Science Teacher, NSTA's HS publication. Every NSELA member is a leader and you all have stories to tell about what is happening in K-12 science in your district and how you and others are making science happen.

Reach out to the following individuals for more information and to submit a draft article. The editors will work with you to get your article ready for publication. Any science educator can write for the column. The goal is to share our stories and learn from one another.

K-5: Kathy Renfrew at krsciencelady@gmail.com

6-8: Lizette Navarrete-Burks at Lizette.Navarrete-Burks@unco.edu

9-12: Shannon Wachowski at marketing.communications@nsela.org

Webinar - Future-Focused Science Assessments: What Leaders Need to Know to Surface Student Brilliance

Please join the Professional Learning Committee for our next webinar "Future-Focused Science Assessments: What Leaders Need to Know to Surface Student Brilliance," presented by national assessment expert Aneesha Badrinarayan.

Current science assessment practices often miss the mark and fail to align with the vision of modern science standards. In this session, you will learn about the features of high-quality science assessments, explore the current assessment landscape, and receive concrete, actionable steps for leaders to enact more meaningful science assessment systems in their districts.

Don't miss this opportunity to bridge the gap between standards and practice. The webinar is scheduled for November 5, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM (EST). Register now to secure your spot at the official event page (see button below).

Leadership Lounge at NSTA

NSELA is thrilled to introduce a brand-new offering at the upcoming NSTA conference in Minneapolis: the NSELA Leader's Lounge!

We know how valuable it is to connect with your peers, so we've created an exclusive space for science leaders to network, relax, and recharge. Start your day with coffee and conversation before your first session, or unwind with light refreshments after a full day of learning. It’s the perfect, informal setting to share ideas and chat with fellow leaders and the NSELA community.

Make this new event a cornerstone of your conference experience.

Event Details:

When: Friday, November 14

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: Minneapolis Convention Center - Room 102 C

We can't wait to welcome you!

Submit a Proposal for NSELA's 66th Annual Conference

The NSELA Professional Learning Committee invites you to submit workshop proposals for the 66th Annual Conference, scheduled for April 15, 2026, in Anaheim, CA. This conference serves as a premier professional learning opportunity, bringing together the nation's top science education leaders to share innovative and transformative practices. The theme for this year is "Leadership by Design," which is a direct call to action for leaders to become intentional architects of dynamic, equitable, and effective learning ecosystems. NSELA is specifically seeking sessions that explore how to proactively construct coherent systems, from professional learning plans to district-wide strategic initiatives, all with a focus on student success.

Proposals must align with one of the four conference strands, which are focused on empowering leaders to drive meaningful change: Designing for Place (Community-Centered & Place-Based Learning), Designing for People (Cultivating Professional Growth & Leadership), Designing for Impact (Data-Informed & Sustainable Systems), and Designing for Tomorrow (Harnessing Innovation & Technology). Submitting a proposal is a unique opportunity to showcase impactful work, connect with dedicated professionals, and contribute to the advancement of science education. The key deadline is November 15, 2025, for all submissions, with announcements of accepted proposals following in December 2025.

Submit a Proposal

COLLABORATE
Highlighting the work of our members, partners, and other organizations.

Partnership Feature

This month we feature the Platinum Level Partner, ExploreLearning.

Turning Real-World Phenomena into Powerful Learning

Many districts are seeking materials that support inquiry, evidence gathering, data analysis, and explanatory writing focused on real-world phenomena. Gizmos Investigations from ExploreLearning offer structured sequences that scaffold three-dimensional sensemaking while remaining flexible for local contexts. Each investigation includes repeatable routines, built-in opportunities for formative assessment, and support for diverse learners.

In a study involving ninety-three middle school classrooms (n ≈ 2,600), students using Gizmos Investigations demonstrated measurable gains in science sensemaking practices.

For district teams, these investigations aren't just practical; they can be an essential engine that drives a truly unified system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Contact the ExploreLearning team to learn more about Gizmos Investigations.

Announcements

CAESART: The Center to Advance Elementary Science through Assessment, Research, and Technology (CAESART) at Education Development Center (EDC), a non-profit research organization, invites your district to participate in a federally funded research study to better understand the effect of literacy-integrated science curriculum on children’s science learning. View this flyer to learn more.

SAFER LABS: Be Protected!
By Dr. Ken Roy, NSELA Safety Compliance Officer

School Laboratory Employee Safety Training Requirements

Learn what safety training is required, who is to be trained and when it is to be done. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) applies to laboratory use of hazardous chemicals, which includes use in science laboratory instructional spaces (such as high school, college, and university teaching labs) if they meet the definition of a laboratory under the standard. The OSHA Lab Standard including the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) is primarily for science labs. It is not meant for shops, studios, or production-like environments where chemical use is secondary to the activity (such as art rooms or Career and Technical Education [CTE] programs in woodworking, welding, and auto tech). Those departments are covered under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Read the Blog Post