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Hello All,

Having served as NSTA President in 2008, I am excited to to start a new leadership role in June 2022 as President of the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA), an affiliate of NSTA. One of my goals as President for this coming year is to support elementary science leaders. Elementary science leaders may be teacher leaders who take on the additional role of supporting science in their schools/districts, elementary science coaches and instructional support, elementary educators who provide professional development, elementary curriculum specialists, informal educators who support elementary teachers, preservice instructors who support our next generation of elementary science teachers, and more. Elementary leaders come in a variety of forms but what they all have in common is the goal of supporting elementary science education for all and the teachers who teach elementary science. Will you join me this coming year as we roll out a variety of opportunities to network, collaborate, and lerarn together? For example, NSELA is collaborating with NSTA on a new column in the Science and Children Journal titled, Elementary Science Leadership Column where we will share ideas to support elementary science leaders. Consider joining NSELA and becoming active in committtees, panels, and new initiatives as we work together to build a strong leadership network for elementary science. I would love to hear your ideas about what you need to support elementary science leadership. Together- let's make a difference and use this forum to build a network of elementary science leaders. Looking forward to hearing your ideas and welcoming you to NSELA!

Hi Page,

I am so excited that you have decided to championelementary science ( PK-5 ) during your presidency with the National Science Education Leadership Association. We , elementary science leaders, need a champion just as all kids need a champion in Rita Pearson's eyes. I think the time is beyond right. Science instruction for elementary students has minimal if existent at all for a long time. This really needs to change and I think the new column in Science and Children is an excellent next step.  Recently the National Academies released a new report, Science and Engineering in Preschool Through Elementary Grades: The Brilliance of Children and the Strengths of Educators. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022.  Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. which provides the research and the thinking of many amazing elementary science thinkers and leaders . This doucment is support and validation of all the work Page, myself and so many others have been doing for many years.  https://doi.org/10.17226/26215.

I   also want to echo Page's call for you to join NSELA, a place where others think like you. If you are participating in this forum you are a science leader. if you are reading this post I am pretty sure you are interested in elementary science. Please join us, please be part of the solution !

Kathy