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!

June 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.

President's Message

Dear NSELA Members and Friends,

As I complete my first month as President of the National Science Education Leadership Association, I do so with deep gratitude and excitement for the work ahead. Nine years ago, I joined NSELA while serving as a Science Curriculum Specialist in Volusia County, Florida. I was attending NSTA sessions designed for classroom teachers, and they were outstanding. I always left with ideas I was excited to bring back and share with the science teachers I supported. But I also knew I needed a professional home where the

conversations centered on the unique work of science education leadership: supporting teachers, building systems, designing professional learning, advocating for science, and leading change. That is what I found in NSELA, and I remain grateful for the leaders, colleagues, and friends who have shaped this organization.

As many school years come to a close, science education leaders are often gearing up for some of their most important work. Summer is when we reflect, plan, redesign, collaborate, and prepare the systems that will support teachers and students in the year ahead. That spirit of purposeful forward motion is where NSELA finds itself now. I am excited to work with our new strategic plan as we strengthen member engagement, expand leadership development, elevate the voice of science education leaders, and continue our important work with the CASTL K-12 Project to connect national conversations to the real work happening in classrooms, districts, states, and organizations across the country.

One initiative and collaboration with NSTA I am especially excited about, is our new Leadership Development Academy, Leadership in Motion: Designing the Future of Science Education Leadership, launching this November 4th in Indianapolis. This academy reflects a core belief of NSELA: leadership grows through reflection, collaboration, practice, and action. As President, my goal is to help NSELA move with intention by honoring our legacy while designing for the future. NSELA’s strength has always come from the people who show up, share ideas, mentor others, ask hard questions, and believe science education leadership can transform opportunities for students. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue building the future of science education leadership together.

With appreciation and anticipation,

Jeremy Blinn, MBA

President, National Science Education Leadership Association

ADVOCATE
Connecting with NSELA committees, events, and leaders.

Leadership Spotlight

Correction: In the May issue, Anthony Stetzenmeyer's location was listed as Belleview High School. This is incorrect. Anthony teaches at Belleville High School. We apologize for the error!

Stacey (Gruber) van Der Veen

Founder and Lead Consultant of Leadership in Science (NSELA Region A)

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

Way back when it was an idealistic thing to do, I co-founded the Hoboken Charter School which will be celebrating its 30th year starting in September. I’ve never done anything as ambitious or challenging as bringing that school to life, and to see it still thriving is beyond what I had imagined. As a

bonus, the Head of School is someone I hired and mentored, so it’s deeply satisfying to see her at the helm.

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

Develop a collaborative, specific, ambitious vision for science teaching and learning with your colleagues and use that vision to guide all of your goals and decision-making. The work we do can quickly become disjointed and distracted if we're not working towards a clear but ambitious endpoint. And develop a vision for yourself and your work, and use it to guide your personal and individual decision making.

What advice do you have for those pursuing science leadership?

Carve out time to focus on your leadership. It’s so easy to get bogged down in management that we can forget what we’re managing for. Management is firefighting, and leadership in fire safety - if you spend all your time battling blazes, you’ll never fireproof your school. And always teach at least one class. I know it seems like you never have the time, but I am so grateful that I was forced to do this early in my career, it completely changed the way I led and interacted with my colleagues.

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

Help Shape NSELA Leadership Support

As future leadership events and member experiences are planned, NSELA is asking for your feedback on two important questions. Your responses will help NSELA make thoughtful, feedback-driven decisions about the opportunities provided for members. We want our leadership work to reflect what matters most to you.

Access the two questions using the button below.

As a brief reminder, please do not forget to renew your NSELA membership so you can continue to stay connected, engaged, and part of this growing leadership community. Renew

Respond to the 2 Question Survey

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

Announcements

The Lawrence Hall of Science: 9-12 Science Survey - We are looking for the truth about what’s working and what’s getting in the way in Grades 9-12 science. Your feedback will directly shape how The Lawrence Hall of Science develops programs, instructional materials, and professional resources that can support the field of Grades 9-12 science in impactful ways. Complete the survey and learn more here.

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

Instructional Space Close-Down Safety Procedure for Summer Vacation

Closing laboratories and classroom instructional spaces for summer doesn’t just mean tidying up; it should be a well-planned process that reduces fire risk and chemical instability and prevents unauthorized access over the several months of summer vacation, in addition to other components.

Read the Blog Post