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!

April 2026

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.

Board Corner

Shannon Wachowski
Publications & Communications Chair (Year 3)

K-12 Partnerships Manager, The Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley
Lander, WY

How has serving in NSELA leadership shaped your career and leadership identity?

Serving in NSELA leadership has broadened my perspective about all the different components and factors that impact K-12 science. It has allowed me to form connections with individuals who serve a variety of different roles in K-12 science leadership.

What lessons have you learned about collaboration, equity, or advocacy in science education through your NSELA work?

The biggest lesson I've learned through my work is the power of community. The Publications & Communications committee has always been relatively small, numbers wise. But the committee more than makes up for this with the positive and caring culture, unique ideas, and thoughtful perspective. I am proud of what we have accomplished together.

How do you plan to stay connected and continue supporting NSELA after your term?

I would like to volunteer for a committee and support as a member.

If you could summarize your NSELA experience in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?

Future. Throughout my time at NSELA I have seen the organization thoughtfully consider its role in the K-12 science field, how it serves its current members, and how to make space for all potential new members. While there is always room to keep improving, I have hope for the future of NSELA.

Policy Brief

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

Reconciliation Strategy: Senate Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution (50–48) to unlock the reconciliation process, which would allow them to pass major policy priorities—including $70 billion for border security and ICE—with a simple majority. Ambitious Timeline: President Trump has set a deadline of June 1 for the package to reach his desk; however, observers consider this highly ambitious given the procedural requirements and internal GOP divisions over spending levels and policy riders.
Congressional Challenges: Speaker Mike Johnson faces a razor-thin majority in the House, requiring near-total Republican unity to advance the budget resolution and subsequent reconciliation bills amidst competing conference priorities.
Education Funding Shifts: The Departments of Education and Labor reversed course on a planned overhaul of K-12 fund disbursement systems, opting to keep current systems to avoid disruption—a move welcomed by state officials.
FY 2027 Appropriations: Education Secretary Linda McMahon is set to testify next week to defend the administration’s budget request, where she is expected to face intense questioning on funding levels and the potential restructuring of federal education programs.

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

Dr. Chatoria Franklin

High School Science Specialist - Rutherford County Schools

Murfreesboro, TN (NSELA Region C)

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

One of the most exciting outcomes of her work has been the significant growth that they've seen in their Biology courses. Teachers and students alike are embracing new approaches to science learning—engaging with meaningful phenomena, asking deeper questions, and applying scientific thinking to real-world problems. These shifts have led to more authentic student engagement and a stronger emphasis on sensemaking rather than rote memorization.

Dr. Franklin is particularly proud of her work at both the district and state levels to advance three-dimensional, high-quality science instruction. Over the past four years, she intentionally built strategic partnerships with science leaders across the state to facilitate meaningful conversations about how science instruction must evolve to better support student sensemaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Through co-facilitating professional learning experiences, Dr. Franklin has helped guide educators in reimagining science classrooms as spaces where students actively construct understanding and think like scientists.

What is your vision for science education?

Looking ahead, her vision for science education is one rooted in equity, access, and shared leadership. Dr. Chatoria Franklin is committed to ensuring that every student—regardless of background, school, or circumstance—has access to rigorous, engaging, and meaningful science learning experiences. She believes this begins with investing in teachers as instructional leaders and change agents. By intentionally developing teacher leaders and creating collaborative structures that elevate educator voice and expertise, we can build sustainable systems that support high-quality, three-dimensional science instruction across classrooms and schools. Through this work, science classrooms become spaces where diverse ways of thinking are valued, student sensemaking is prioritized, and all learners are empowered to see themselves as capable scientific thinkers prepared to navigate an increasingly complex world.

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.

Use the link (button) below to learn more about submitting an article AND/OR applying to be a reviewer. The column 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.

Submit an Article or Apply to be a Reviewer

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

Affiliate Highlight

This month we are pleased to feature FLSELA, the Florida Science Education Leadership Association. FLSELA is a Dual Affiliate with NSELA.

FLSELA (Florida Science Education Leadership Association—previously branded as FASS) is a statewide professional association focused on supporting science education leadership across Florida. Our members are science education leaders who coordinate, supervise, and support science teaching and learning—most commonly at the district and/or system level—who value collaboration, shared problem-solving, and the continuous improvement of science programs. We support statewide connection through an internal contact list designed to strengthen collaboration among leaders across Florida’s

67 school districts, helping ensure leaders can connect quickly to share resources, strategies, and solutions.

What is your organization working on to support science education leaders?

Our work centers on leadership capacity-building and practical support for science programs. In alignment with our stated purpose, we focus on: (1) promoting effective leadership and coordination of science programs and policies; (2) disseminating timely materials and information to the science education community; and (3) advancing research-based science education practices across districts. We do this through statewide convenings (for example, our recurring state meetings that invite proposals and participation), curated resources for leaders (including safety guidance and statewide science/engineering resource connections), and member-only resources that support leaders’ operational and instructional needs.

How can NSELA members in your area get involved?

NSELA members located in Florida can connect with FLSELA by joining our statewide network and participating in our convenings and collaboration structures. Practically, that can include: reaching out via our general contact email, engaging through our statewide collaboration list (especially when leadership transitions occur), and attending/presenting at FLSELA state meetings by responding to our calls for proposals and registrations. Because Florida participates in NSELA’s dual-membership affiliate structure through the Florida affiliate listing, Florida-based leaders can also align their engagement so membership structures support both state and national involvement.

Announcements

CAESART - The Education Development Center’s CAESART project is recruiting districts for a federally funded, two-year study examining the impact of a literacy-integrated science curriculum on K–1 students’ science learning. Eligible districts may be using any K–1 science curriculum, or interested in adopting Amplify Science. Participating schools receive $5,000/school per year and $1,000/ teacher per year. The study runs from 2026–27 through 2027–28. To learn more, contact CAESART@edc.org or visit this link to learn more.

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

Mercury Spills in the Science Instructional Space: Hazards, Risks, and Safety Actions

Use of mercury in high school and middle school science classrooms and laboratory instructional spaces has well-known safety and health hazards and risks. Bottomline is don’t take any chances with safety and health—even to learn important science.

Read the Blog Post