statellite - august 2010

8/9/2019 STATellite - August 2010

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CAST 2010: Conference Highlights Register Now!

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Plus... A Plethora of InspiringBack to School Articles!

Volume 54, Number 3 August 2010

TheOfcial Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Texas

Inside:
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About UsWe are STAT, the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

STAT is commied to the enhancement of the teaching of science in Texas at all levelsand in all science disciplines.

For STAT Position Statements, go to: http://www.statweb.org/positions

STAT is:o A statewide organization of elementary, middle level, and high school

teachers, college educators, supervisors of science, and others dedicated tomaintaining the highest levels of science and education in our schools.

o A chapter of the National Science Teachers Associationo Visit the NSTA site

STAT seeks to:o Serve as a unied voice for the science teachers of the state.o Keep science teachers and other members informed about current trends in

science education.o Provide opportunities for members to examine techonology, curriculum,

materials, and services.o Inform members of local, state and national meetings, conferences, seminars

and workshops related to sciences.o Cooperate with other science oriented organizations and teacher associations

in the promotion of teaching of science.

History:STAT, Science Teachers Association of Texas, was formally organized in 1957 duringthe 4th Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science & Mathematics Teaching(CASMT). STAT membership is now more than 7,000 strong!
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CalendarPresidents MessageKnowledge is PowerAdministrators and Policymakers Institute

Supplemental MaterialsCall for Board Members

Educators Professional Liability InsuranceCAST 2010 GuideVolunteer @ CASTStudents Use Science to Solve CrimeSTAT Awards Nominations

Even Teaching Science is an ArtAliate NewsSTAT Contacts Elected Ocers Appointed Positions

Aliate Congress Texas State Board of Education

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CAST 2010November 11 - 13, 2010Houston, TX

CAST Board MeetingNovember 13, 2010Houston, TX

February

STAT BOD MeetingFebruary 19-20, 2011,Austin, TX

ISEA Conference

February 25-27, 2011

Marble Falls, TX

SeptemberTAEE Annual Fall ConferenceSeptember 17-19Burnet, TX

CCRI Math and Science SummitSeptember 23-24

San Antonio, TX

TMEA ConferenceSeptember 24Corpus Christi, TX

OctoberRio Grande Valley Science Conference

October 9 - 10, 2010Mercedes, TX

NSTA Area ConferenceOctober 28 - 30, 2010Kansas City, MO

November

TSELA MeetingNovember 10Houston, TX

STAT1008

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A Message from President PalmerOver the years, I have heard teachers tell me

that they get frustrated when they "teach" somethingbut the students do not get it. During my teachingcareer I had many such experiences. A number ofyears ago, I had two experiences that helped meunderstand the problem.

The rst experience was seeing the documen-tary "A Private Universe" (available as streamingvideo HERE). This video looks at why many adultsdo not understand some basic science conceptsthat they were "taught" in school. The second was aconference speech by Grant Wiggins. Wiggins, alongwith Jay McTighe, wrote the book Understanding

by Design. In their book, Wiggins and McTighe

argue that one of the reasons students do not learn isthat we do not design our instruction in a way thatleads students to a deep understanding of concepts.

Rather, we teach using activities that are interest-ing to us and are related to the concept, but maynot lead the students to the learning outcomes wedesire. They also point out that we, as teachers, donot assess student learning in a way that truly dem-onstrates their understanding. Dealing with largeclasses and large total student numbers, we tendto use selected response tests that easily generate agrade for our grade books but do not really measurewhat the students learned.

I began to reect on my own teaching andassessment practices. I realized that many of mystudents were not learning. Like most teachers, Idid not take time to go back and re-teach students

who were not successful on the selected responsetest. I even remember times when all the studentsdid poorly on my test. I would curve the grades and

then move on. Looking back, that was edu-cational malpractice. If the test was a truemeasure of what students should know,then the fact that all of them did poorlymeans they did not learn what they shouldhave. If it was not an accurate measure ofwhat the students should have known, thenit was not a fair test. Either way, curvingthe grades and moving on was not bestpractice. I realize that we need to designinstruction with clear outcomes in line. Weneed to assess in authentic ways that actu-ally let us know what students do and donot understand.

I think there is an additional compo-nent that we as science educators need toaddress. This additional component is our

comprehension of our subject. There aresome concepts that science teachers teachwithout thoroughly understanding. Forexample, in a video documentary similar to

Joel Palmer, representing STAT at NSTAs CAGS Conference inLas Vegas, NV, July 2010.

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(contd. from page 9)

A Private Universe called Minds of Our Own (avail-able as streaming videoHERE) the producers ask collegegraduates at graduation where the maer in a tree comesfrom. In other words, you plant a small acorn and 30years later there is a huge oak tree weighing hundredsof tons. Where does all the maer come from? A livingtree has a large mass of water and it is obvious wherethat comes from but even totally dried the tree weighstons. Where did all that maer come from? Over thelast 10 years I have asked numerous groups of second-ary science teachers this question. Few have been ableto answer it. If you are not sure of the answer, check outthe video or simply think about the process of photosyn-thesis and respiration.

So how do you gain a deep understanding ofyour subject? One step is to think deeply about yoursubject. What are the big ideas and underlying principalsthat shape your subject? Next discuss these big ideaswith other teachers. Read periodicals published in your

eld, both educational and scientic. Then aend StaDevelopment opportunities were you can spend timewith other science educators discussing your subject. AsSTAT president I must recommend CAST and your localMiniCAST if there is one in your area.

Join one of the STAT aliate groups. There aregroups for almost any discipline. They can be found onthe STAT website at hp://www.statweb.org/aliates .These aliates include ones organized around Chemis-try, Informal science education, Integrated science teach-ing, Biology, Environmental science, Elementary scienceteaching, Earth science, Marine science, and Physics. Thedues for these organizations are very reasonable andmost hold subject area meetings around the state as wellas publish their own newsleers.

Take university classes or considering applyingto grant funded programs at both the state and nationallevel. Some of the greatest learning opportunities ofmy life were summer programs where they paid all my

expenses and I got to spend 2-3 weeks somewhere learn-ing science. I aended such programs from 1989 1995when I left the classroom to become a science coordina-tor (most require you be a classroom teacher). I spenttime in San Diego, Idaho, Washington state, Montana,

and at Notre Dame University. Where do you nd outabout these programs? I found them in the NSTA andSTAT publications, but you have to take the initiative tond them and apply.

My ultimate point is that we, as science teachers,must be lifelong learners. It is not enough to get a BS orBA degree and be satised that you know enough. Itoften means more than geing a Masters degree in edu-cation. They seldom do much to increase your contentknowledge. To be the best teacher you can be, you must

be a consumer of knowledge.

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Project E: Expanding Energy Education WorkshopsAt Ocean StarMuseum in Galveston 20th Street at Harborside Drive

Presents

Knowledge Box Grades 6-12

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Playing with Petroleum Grades K-5

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

2010 WORKSHOP DATES

Participants will receive free admission to the Museum, a complimentary guided tour with a light breakfast, the PE: Expanding Energy EducationTeacher Guide (a $35.00 value) and a travel stipend for those that drive depending on availability. We require a $35.00 refundable registrat iondeposit to discourage NO-SHOWS. Registration deposits will be cheerfully refunded to registrants that attend the workshop and those that cancelthree days prior to the workshop date. The workshop begins at 9:00am and ends at 4:00pm. Each participant will also receive 6 CPE hours and will

be entitled to reserve a Knowledge Box or Playing with Petroleum Kit for up to 30 days to untilize in their classrooms at no charge. (Free pick-up anddelivery within the Houston area.) Ask about workshops outside of the Houston/Galveston area.

Mail checks to:

Offshore Energy Center200 N. Dairy Ashford, Suite 6220

Houston, Texas 77079(281) 544-2435 Fax: (281) 544-2441

For more information about the workshops, visit our website: www oceanstaroec.comor contact Doris Tomas, Education Director, [email protected]

presents

The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU)The Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU) is

a $1.2 million dollar engaging traveling exhibit.It features six self contained learning centers with

curriculum-based, hands-on activities about energy

and the technologies and sciences involved with

the oil and gas industry. The curriculum for each

of the 24 activities is based on national and Texas

state standards (TEKS). Although the MOLU is

geared for 5th grade students, it is also appropriate

for other age groups. The MOLU is sponsored byDevon, Dominion, ExxonMobil, Halliburton,

Marathon Oil Company, and Schlumberger.

Teachers will need to accomplishthe following prior to the visit:

Administer pre-test

Have students view 2 complimentary DVDs,OECs The Offshore Storyand API's Fuel-less

Have students complete aCareer Interest Profile form

Following the visit, teachers are asked to:

Review and correct answers in theMOLU Pass booklet with students

Administer post-test

Score pre/post tests and mail to OEC

Complete online teacher evaluation form

A pre-visit package containing allnecessary materials will be sent to theschool prior to the MOLU visit.

For more information about the MOLU

and to download a MOLU Request Form,

please visit www.oceanstaroec.com

Dont forget to visit the Offshore Energy Centers booth 219 at CAST!!!

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Knowledgeis Power, get some and givesome. This is my personal mantra that I share with mystudents, other educators, parents, and anyone con-nected with education. These words have impacted myworld so forcefully that I feel I must share my story inan eort to impact administrators and empower othereducators!

Let us go back to the beginning, my rst year

teaching. I was given a split assignment of 7th and 8thgrade science. I was handed a textbook, shown the sci-ence storerooms, and encouraged by my science depart-ment team. I only remember that I was still teachingchemistry concepts in December and I never made it toecology that year. This is a story we can all relate to.

I felt dissatised and wanted more training. Ifound a weeklong summer opportunity at Texas Lu-theran University as part of the AP Institute program. Iwas grateful that my principal supported my aendanceand I received the rst of my many hours of professionaldevelopment. It was an incredible learning experienceand I brought back several lab activities that are still partof the scope and sequence for that district.

Skip ahead a few years, and I joined about theTexas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Scienceand Math which provided a 105 hours of professionaldevelopment (for FREE) and materials for my scienceclass. I was thrilled and became an enthusiastic member.

At this point, I will give much credit to my principal,Pai Vlieger, for supporting my participation in on-go-ing professional development. Our district had stoppedsupporting teacher sta development during the schoolyear and my principal worked with me to ask for excep-tions in return for my training of other teachers. Throughher acknowledgement of the power of professionaldevelopment, I was able to aend CAST (although I wasnot given money, only the time o), CTRC trainings, andmost importantly, conference time to train my sciencedepartment members with an expectation from our prin-

cipal that the training was not optional.

In my 8-year teaching career, I have logged closeto 1,000 hours of professional development, earned

a Masters degree in curriculum and technology, andaended, as well as presented, at several conferencesincluding CAST, NSTA, and TECC. While I do notsuggest this should be the standard, what I do suggestis that, based on my personal experience, knowledge ispower!

You may be wondering why I would share myplethora of experiences. You see, each time I aended

professional development opportunties, I was able toadd to my teacher toolbox. Each time I prepared topresent district training or a workshop for a conference,I was reecting and practicing purposeful pedagogyin my classroom to ensure that the information I sharedwas eective.

The New Teacher Project published a reportcalled: The Widget Eect: Our National Failure to Ac-knowledge and Act on Dierences in Teacher Eective-ness. The report states: The lesson from these decadesof research is clear: teachers maer. Some teachers arecapable of generating exceptional learning growth instudents; others are not, and a small group actuallyhinders their students academic progress. I resemblethis remark. Through my professional development, Iwent from being an enthusiastic rst year teacher to aneective ebullient science teacher. All the routines in myclassroom are designed to support learning and I can say

this with condence because of my knowledge base. Iam a powerful teacher because I have been taught howto be eective. I have aended trainings, brought backideas, revised labs, collaborated with others, and wit-nessed student success based on purposeful pedagogy.

Knowledge is Powerby Stef Paramoure, Presidential Award Winner for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching

9

In my 8-year teaching career, Ihave logged close to 1,000 hoursof professional development...each time I aended professional

development opportunties, I wasable to add to my teacher tool-box... through my professionaldevelopment, I went from beingan enthusiastic rst year teacherto an eective ebullient scienceteacher.
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Your next question might logically be, so why amI sharing this information? You see, I have been honoredas a result of my purposeful pedagogy. I have not onlytouched the lives of my students, but I have reaped the

benets of teaching awards. In the past, I have been theSecondary Teacher of the Year for Comal ISD, the GulfCoast Association for Geological Societies Teacher of theYear, the American Association of Petroleum GeologistNational Teacher of the Year and most recently I wasgiven the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and

Science Teaching award for Secondary Science. I get tomeet the President of the United States and I will be given$10,000 dollars!! So, I have decided to use this award asa way to showcase the importance of professional devel-opment for all teachers. Had I stayed the energetic rstyear teacher I was, I would not have received the aboveawards. Albeit, my students would have enjoyed myclass, I would not have made the same impact. Learninghow to incorporate brain-based learning into my class,the power of journaling and MTV (Making Thinking Vis-ible), as well as the content understanding I gained with

my association with TRC has been incredible.

We know that the teacher is a critical componentof student success. The Widget Eect goes on to statethat, Furthermore, it requires professional develop-ment that is tightly linked to performance standards anddierentiated based on individual teacher needs. Thecore purpose of evaluation must be maximizing teachergrowth and eectiveness, not just documenting poor per-formance as a prelude to dismissal. We need to realizethat individuals who enter the teaching profession mustexperience ongoing professional development to experi-ence quality content training, exposure to new technolo-

gies, and the chance to mingle with other lifelong learn-ers who are dedicated to inspiring the next generation.As educators, we know the power of practicing meta-cognition with our students, we see the power of peersharing and evaluation, as well as the exponential growth

experienced when students are given the support andopportunity to learn from mistakes and take educationalrisks. Yet, more often than not, this is not the case for theteacher. This is a problem. Remembering the frustrationthat can accompany the learning of a new skill, the powerof questioning why you selected your answer or support-ing your choice with facts is not just for our students.

We need to encourage reection and MTV in ourteachers. This cannot be accomplished without profes-

sional development opportunities. The synergy experi-enced when a group of educators start to share experi-ences is incredible. Please consider joining your localTRC collaborative , aending professional developmentopportunities, and reminding your administration thatpurposeful pedagogy requires ongoing support andpractice opportunities and needs district support. I chal-lenge you to reect on your teaching methods. Why doyou have specic classroom routines, are there other waysto accomplish the same task while increasing studentinvolvement, are you doing most of the talking in your

classroom, and what is the classroom culture you createin your rst week of school? I have pondered each ofthese questions and more as a direct result of professionaldevelopment. I still remember one CAST workshop inwhich I tweaked the presenters idea and came up withmy STAR (Saluting Tenaciousness, Awesomeness, andanything else the Rocks!) program. You would be amazedat power of awarding a student a cut out star and seeingthe pride and level of engagement increase.

In closing, I will share with you my ocial pressrelease for the Presidential award:I am indebted to the Texas Regional Collaboratives formy growth in science content and purposeful pedagogy.This organization has impacted not only my life, butalso those of my students and the students of teacherswith whom I have shared information. Knowledge ispower and the TRC has enabled me to become a power-ful teacher. Earning the PAMEST validates how qualityongoing professional development is crucial to improv-ing education and inspiring the next generation to pursue

STEM careers.

There you have it: Knowledge is POWER, getsome and give some!

Knowledge is Power (contd.)

10

Want to be rewarded foryour teaching like StephParamoure? Apply fora STAT Award for yourchance to shine!
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You already know that the new science TEKs will change your curriculum, but do youknow whatyoucan do to improve scores in your district?

We are calling all administrators, principals, and district policymakers to join theScience Teachers Association of Texas as we host our annual Administrators andPolicymakers Institute (API) to learn about the changing dynamics of the Texas scienceclassroom.

API focuses on science education objectives and administrator training for new sciencestandards. Please join us at CAST for a special half-day program designed to fit your

science goals and objectives. This years API will occur on Thursday, November 11at the Houston Hilton-Americas.

The low registration fee of$95 includes breakfast, an opening general session, 10educational breakout sessions and a luncheon featuring educational consultant andexpert in the Neuroscience of Learning, Kenneth Wesson. Wessons presentation,How Children Learn: Brain Research and Inquiry-Based Science, will give you thetools you need to understand how to get inside students minds and help them succeed.

Dont beleft behind!Move aheadwith API!

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Beginning with the 2010 2011 schoolyear, science educators will begin implementingthe revised Science TEKS. This will present manychallenges as some concepts have been moved todierent grade levels, new content has been addedto various grade levels, and the rigor has beenincreased in all science courses. Compounding thechallenges is the fact that new instructional materi-

als correlated to the revised Science TEKS will notbe available for several years. Fortunately, the StateBoard of Education (SBOE) has made provisionsfor supplemental materials to be developed andmade available to science educators beginning inthe 2011 2012 school year.

This will be a double-edged sword for thescience education community. The writing teamsfor each subject area and grade level did com-

mendable jobs in clarifying the documents, addingrigor, and relevance. The revised documents arenot perfect, but are superior to the original TEKSwrien in the late 90s. Had the documents beenapproved by the SBOE as submied by the writingteams, Texas students would be the benefactors ofsome of the best standards in the nation. However,the SBOE added some statements to the documentsthat will open the door for supplemental materialsthat have factual errors and are designed to cast

doubt on some of the most established conceptsand theories in science. As was the case in EnglishLanguage Arts and Social Studies, the SBOE ig-nored the quality work of the writing teams, andsaw t to put in statements that weaken science ed-ucation for Texas students and, in some instances,pushed science back into the 1500s. Two coursesthat had signicant and deleterious additions wereEarth and Space Science and Biology. Examples of

added statements in Biology are 7B, 7G, and 9D.

High-quality supplemental materials ad-dressing 21st century science, legitimate scienceconcepts, and correlated to the revised Science

TEKS will be a valuable asset that can enhanceclassroom presentations. Unfortunately, becauseany entity can submit supplementary materials,some materials that are submied will containfactual errors, convoluted information, and preellogic that will do lile to increase student scienticliteracy. We are once again in the position of hav-ing to defend science education, specically evolu-

tion, geological concepts, the Big Bang, and the ageof the universe, among others. Some examples ofpublications to be avoided are Explore Evolutionand The Design of Life.

What can we do? The rst step is to makesure we have well-qualied science educators onthe review commiees. These commiees will meetin the late fall and early spring to review materi-als. If you are interested in serving on a review

commiee, please contact me for information([email protected]). Next, make sure everyone isaware of which materials will ensure that our stu-dents will get a 21st century science education, andwhich materials would achieve less than desirableresults. We are faced with enough challenges intodays classrooms without the infusion of dubiousinstructional materials.

The boom line: the SBOE should respect

the expertise and advice of teachers and scholars inadopting new science instructional materials andensure that students get a sound science educationthat prepares them to succeed in college and thejobs of the 21st century. This should take prece-dence over political agendas.

Supplemental Materials: Buyer Beware!an Editorial by Kevin Fisher, TSELA President-Elect

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Nominate a STAT Ocer

Make your voice heard and make a dierence for the scienceteachers in Texas by taking a leadership role with STAT.

Each ocer serves as a voting member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Commit-tee. Below is a listing of the oces and the duties of each oce:

President-Elect:The President-Elect assists with conference planning, serves as the interim President in theabsence of the President, and works with the Regional Directors on membership develop-ment and regional Mini-CASTs. The President-Elect serves as President the following year(June 2012-2013).

Vice President:The Vice President coordinates and nominates CAST Presiders and serves as the liason forthe aliate organizations. One year term.

Treasurer:The Treasurer serves as the Chief Financial Ocer, supervising nancial transactions, main-taining accurate records, and provides monthly reports to the Board. One year term.

Secretary:The Secretary keeps accurate minutes of the Board and Executive Commiee meetings, pro-vides regular reports of the minutes to the Board, and writes correspondence on behalf of

the Board. One year term.

You may nominate yourself or others for multiple oces.To nominate someone for STAT Oce, please visit theNOMINATION SITE and email thenomination form to [email protected], or send to our address listed. Nominees will besent a nomination packet to complete and return to the Nomination Comiee in order to beconsidered for election.

The deadline for nominees is October 15th, 2010.

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The Science Teachers Association of Texas is nowoering Educators Professional Liability Insurance(EPLI). For only $50/year, you can be covered for up to$2 million per occurrence. Thats a lot of weight behindyour career!

This is an especially important asset for science teachers. Think about all the times youvebeen in a lab this year, helping students through complicated, hands-on projects.

The liability section of the policy will help protect you when unfortunate incidentsoccur, such as injury to a student under your watch or failure to educate. A separate sec-tion of the policy provides reimbursement of aorney fees in a broad range of situationsnot covered under Coverage A, such as criminal charges, allegations of sexual miscon-duct, actions involving dismissal, revocation of certication, and other professional rightsand duties.

The policy period began on 8/1/2010. If you enroll now, your coverage begins on thedate of your enrollment and ends on 8/1/2011.

Premium Break-Down

Insurance Premium: Regular Member $44.00

State Tax & Fees (4.91%) $2.16

Administrative Cost $3.84

Total Cost $50.00

Insurance Premium: Student $22.00

State Tax & Fees (4.91%) $1.08

Administrative Cost $3.92

Total Cost $27.00

EPLI is a members-only benet. If you are interested in joining STAT, visit ourwebsite and click Join today!

Membership is only $25/year.

Educators Professional Liability Insurance.

Get the Coverage You Need to Keep Your Career Protected.

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1515

CAST 2010 Sponsors


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CAST 2010 Sponsors

Thank You for Making CAST 2010 Possible!

For more information on each sponsor, please click their logo.

Sponsorships are still available.To nd out more, go to www.statweb.org/sponsorship.

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http://www.statweb.org/sponsorshiphttp://www.vernier.com/http://www.heb.com/http://www.jasonscience.org/http://www.chevron.com/http://www.cisco.com/http://www.unitedspacealliance.com/http://www.mfah.org/http://www.k8science.org/http://www.bcm.edu/http://www.bioedonline.org/http://www.millmarkeducation.org/http://www.dow.com/http://www.thetrc.org/http://www.kbr.com/http://www.wardsci.com/http://www.sciencekit.com/http://www.ohaus.com/http://www.sargentwelch.com/http://www.statweb.org/sponsorship


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HOUSINGWe recommend booking rooms at our state-of-the-art host hotel, the Houston Hilton-Americas, located across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Hotel: Houston Hilton-Americas Hotel Rate: $165Hotel: Doubletree Hotel Houston Downtown Hotel Rate: $132

Attendees that book through the STAT housing site will: Be guaranteed that their hotel will be on the CAST 2010hotel shuttle route. Receive lower rates through STATs block of rooms. Stay at official CAST hotels, which have been inspected by staff prior to booking:we only book with hotels we have reviewed. Be giving back to CAST: future hotel contract negotiations dependon the size of our block. CAST is able to keep rates low if more attendees book within

our designated hotels.PLUS you will be entered to receive a free two night stay from The Sheraton Dallas!

Visit www.statweb.org/cast/housingto book your rooms today!

RegistrationThe Conference will take place November 11-13 in Houston, TX, at the George R.Brown Convention Center. Register for the conference, beginning August 15, 2010, byvisiting our website:www.statweb.org/cast/register

Early Bird Rate: $115 (must be registered and paid before 9.24.10)*Register early and your name will be entered in a drawing for a VIP seat and invitationto the exclusive VIP reception with Robert Ballard on Wednesday, November 10! Also,register at the Early Bird rate to guarantee that your name badge will be mailed to you

in advance so you can go straight to the sessions. An additional perk is first-pick for theFREE short courses offered this year. Theyll be going fast!Advanced Rate: $145 (must be registered and paid between 9.25.10-10.15.10)Regular Rate: $160 (must be registered and paid between 10.16.10-11.13.10)Student: $25 (with proof of current enrollment)Administrators and Policymakers Institute (Thursday Only): $95Family Member: $45 (with any full registration fee)Saturday Only: $50

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SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS
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SPEAKERS AND SESSIONSHe discovered the RMS Titanic, methane-fueled mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico,completely preserved shipwrecks in the BlackSea, and much more!

And now, famed oceanographer and explorerDr. Robert Ballard, will take you on a journeybeyond your classroom textbooks and dive intothe heart of the expedition experience. Join usfor this exciting keynote as Dr. Ballard takes uson a new mission to create the Classrooms ofTomorrow, November 11th during the opening

ceremonies.

You may shed a few tears, youll probably laugh so hardyoull snort and, chances are, youll hang on every word.Take the advice ofDr. Debbie Silverand realize thebenefits ofPracticing Safe Stress in your classroom. Join

us November 12 for this humorous and reflective keynotesession: A Presentation for Educators who are Over-Tired, Over-Burdened, Over-Committed and/or JustAbout Ready to SNAP!

BRAND NEW!CAST 2010 Science JAM Sessionsare included in your registration. These extra

sessions, just 45 minutes long, help you keep your day JAM-packed with education andknowledge! These courses are also specifically designed to hold larger audiences andwill give you an opportunity to network with teachers from across the state.

In addition to these fantastic keynote presentations,you will have your option of attending 14 one-hourworkshops out of more than 550 options tailored tothe TEKS, your grade level and subject of science.You may also individually purchase 3 hour or 6hour hands-on short courses or half day and full dayfield trips to add to your experience!

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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTSExhibitsWe know a number of teachers who pack extra suitcasesfor all the giveaways and new materials to purchase atour exhibit hall. CAST 2010 will feature 400 exhibitbooths filled with the latest teaching tools and scienceactivity gear. Be prepared to get moving as you venturefrom booth to booth and take products from Science in

the City toyourcity.

Steppin Out SocialPlan to attend the Friday night social at the

Houston Pavilions. Special discounts for dining,

drinks, entertainment, shopping, and more willbe available for all CAST attendees.

The Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonAll CAST attendees will enjoy free admission to

the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with

presentation of name badge. Enhance yourHouston experience by enjoying the almost 60,000pieces MFAH has to offer from around the world.

Science in the City ReceptionJoin us on Thursday for our opening night grandreception, graciously sponsored by Chevron. Thereception is free to all attendees and will includeappetizers, entertainment, giveaways and surprisesfor our guests! As a special treat, the exhibit hallwill stay open during the reception so you can snackwhile you stroll the exhibits.

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Conference Schedule
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20

Conference Schedule

thursday, november 11th

friday, november 12th

saturday, november 13th

7:00 am - 5:00 pm CAST Registration

7:00 am - 8:00 am First Time Attendees Coffee Hour8:00 am - 5:00 pm Scheduled Field Trips8:30 am - 1:00 pm Administrators and Policymakers Institute8:30 am - 5:30 pm Workshops - every hour8:45 am - 5:45 pm Science JAM Sessions - every 1.5 hours9:00 am - 12:00 pm 3-hour Short Courses1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Opening Ceremony: Keynote Speaker

Bob Ballard,Teacher Award Presentation,STAT Business Meeting

2:30 pm - 7:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open3:00 pm - 6:00 pm 3-hour Short Courses

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm CAST 2010 Grand Reception

7:00 am - 5:00 pm CAST Registration7:30 am - 9:00 am STAT VIP Breakfast8:00 am - 5:00 pm Scheduled Field Trips

8:30 am - 5:30 am Workshops - every hour8:45 am - 5:45 pm Science JAM Sessions - every 1.5 hours9:00 am - 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open9:00 am - 12:00 pm 3-hour Short Courses11:30 am - 12:30 pm Keynote Speaker: Debbie Silver2:00 pm - 5:00 pm 3-hour Short Courses

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Science Teachers Steppin Out Social

7:00 am - 10:00 am CAST Registration8:00 am - 3:30 pm Scheduled Field Trips8:00 am - 2:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open8:30 am - 4:00 pm Workshops - every hour8:45 am - 11:15 am Science JAM Sessions - every 1.5 hours9:00 am - 12:00 pm 3-hour Short Courses11:30 am - 12:30 pm Closing Session

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm 3-hour short courses

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BOARD SIGHTINGS


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STAT President-Elect Ross AnnHill of Idalou ISD, posing with theSTAT Banner at the 16th AnnualTexas Regional CollaborativesConference in Austin, TX.

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BOARD SIGHTINGS

The newly-elected STAT Board poses during the August 6-7Board Meeting.

From left to right: Deidre Parish, Tony Zahn, Patsy Magee,Ross Ann Hill, Joel Palmer, and Laurel Frank
http://www.digitaliseducation.com/http://www.digitaliseducation.com/


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Were bringing Science to the City, and we need your help!

If youve been to CAST before, you know that the success of this conference is due inbig part to the contributions of our fantastic volunteers and we are sincerely grateful foryour support!

We are seeking energetic, friendly, science-loving, organized and talented individuals tohelp us facilitate this years conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

If you love science, education and people, and are comfortable in fast-paced environ-ments, then we look forward to having you as a volunteer at CAST!

The following is a list of available positions: Workshop and Short Course Presiders

Registration Monitors (Exhibit Hall, Cyber Cafe, Special Events) Runners Green Team Hospitality needs Special needs Field Trip Presiders Badge Checkers

Photographers Vendor Assistance Technical Assistance (A/V Skills necessary) Greeters Workshop/Short Course Runners

Additional opportunities may be available. If you have a specic talent you feel wouldbe helpful, please let us know!

Signing up is easy. Take a moment to complete our Volunteer Form to let us knowwhen and where you would like to help!

VOLUNTEER at CAST

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ContentsMeler Students Use Science to Solve Crime (contd.)

At the end of the day, students trekked tothe cafeteria for a debrieng, with their completedinformation grid in hand, ready to make an accusa-tion of their prime suspect. The results of each crimelab activity were discussed, as well as the qualifyingsuspects in each rotation. Possible careers that useforensic science investigation were discussed andthen (magically) the missing cookies were wheeledout for student consumption (with a likely explana-tion of what really happened).

This is the second year Karen Wideman,math/science teacher, has organized this event atMeler. The idea came to her after aending sev-eral CSI/forensic science CAST sessions in Austintwo years ago, where criminal investigations wereused as a catalyst for practicing scientic observa-tion skills. Although the classes seemed to be for

older students, Wideman was determined to adaptthose skills to a the level of a third grade student.Upon returning, Wideman ordered books, evidencebags, nger print kits/cards, and crime tape. Addi-tionally, she researched third grade leveled picturebook mystery literature and dierent kinds of secretcodes from her sons Cub Scout books. Organizingenough topics/activities into class rotations to insurethe investigation could be completed in one day andinclude all the third grade students in the school,she brought the plan to her team.

It was not hard to convince any of the teach-ers to jump on board because this truly is a cross-

curricular activity. The skills of inferring, observing,and drawing conclusions are reading TEKS as wellas those of science. The measuring, making/read-ing charts, and solving a logical problem are MathTEKS. Social Studies TEKS were included whencrime investigative careers were discussed. Even artTEKS were included, as the color wheel and dier-ent ways to mix colors were discussed in the chro-matography class. Each teacher chose one of theclasses to teach.

Meler principal, Christine Rigia, boughtinto the activity right away, ordering cookies fromthe cafeteria and agreeing to be one of the suspects.She walked around (acting mysteriously suspi-ciouseven wearing shoes to look like the foot-print image) as students solved the crime. Cafeteriaworkers, custodians, and secretaries have been used

as suspects well as teachers. They actually want tobe the suspects. One pre-K teacher suspect wouldstart humming C is for Cookie every time the thirdgrade students walked by her class.

In addition to this being a perfect cross-curricular activity, teachers, as well as students,had a great deal of fun. Some of the fun was in theactual deciding of possible suspects and their fakemotives. In fact, one year, the entire faculty wantedto view the crime scene brieng video and couldnot stop laughing (as the motives were all too real).Most of all, this activity brought science investiga-tions into the real world and made for a fun-lled,year-end activity.

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25

Call for Nominations

Nominate yourself, a friend,

colleague, or mentor for a 2010STAT Award. Applications are

now available, and will be accepteduntil September 3, 2010.

Show your appreciation for an outstandingteacher who deserves recognition!

Click Here to go to the

online awards page.

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It was the last day of school. I was superbusy wrapping up things, boxing important items Itreasured or would need for the next year. Sudden-ly an envelope caught my eye. It said, Do not openuntil the Last day of school. This was it. I carefullyopened it and started reading. Dear Ms. Kulkarni,I would like to tell you something from my heart.I really hated Chemistry in the beginning. But youmade the class so much fun. I dont know when

and how I fell in love with Science. You are the bestteacher in the entire world. I will always rememberyou.

I could not stop smiling. This was the samestudent who, during the fourth week of school,yelled at me during class, I hate science and I hateyou. How did this happen? As a science teacher, Imethodically tried to gure this out. Chemistry isoften illustrated with laws, equations and balanced

reactions. Can teaching be something like that?Maybe its as simple as mixing the lesson plans withcurriculum and blending them together. Maybea lile warm-up with quizzes and tests facilitatesthe reaction. Bingo there pops the nal product,Learning and Success.

So does that make teaching a science? Well,prediction and reality do not always match inscientic research. That is what makes research

more challenging. What if teachers do not see thenal product in our kids? Sometimes two scientistsworking on the same reaction get dierent yields.How can you explain that? It not only takes knowl-edge, patience and dedication, but also skills and anart of handling the experiments.

Each day in a teachers life is an experiment.Sometimes the results could be astonishing, and

sometimes it could be failure. Science may promptto simply repeat the experiment, but if we add an-other component art we can be very creativeand generate wonders.

A teacher who inspired me always said,Teach with your heart, not just with your intel-lect, and rewards will walk toward you. I alwaysremember her message. Merely having a collegedegree and certication can qualify you to be a topteacher. There could be workshops and conferencesto provide more training. However, what makes ateacher great is nding the right mix of scienceand art. Both seem to be totally dierent disciplines,

but once fused together, they can generate marvel-ous masterpieces.

I love to watch art movies and documenta-ries. My brother likes action movies. But the com-mon thing in us is that we both love to watch mov-ies. The same story goes with our children. Eachindividual could be unique with a specic learningstyle and personality. How to juggle with adjustingyour teaching styles to bring out the best in a child

is an absolute art. I consider teaching as not justmy profession, but also my passion. It often bringssome sweet moments to cherish for, with few bierones. After all, that is life.

Kabir, a famous saint from India expressedhis reverence for his teacher in his couplet:Guru Govind Dou Khade, kake lagun PayeBalihari Guru apne, Govind diyon milayeIt means: My teacher (guru) and God are in front

of me. Who should I bow to rst? It is my teacher,because he is the one who introduced me to God.

If teachers blend science and art along withtheir passion in teaching, they can create a lifelongimpact. No wonder, they will earn that highrespect.

Sandy Kulkarni is a chemistry teacher at Allen High Schooland a Teacher Voices volunteer columnist for The Dallas

Morning News. Her e-mail address is [email protected]

Even Teaching Science is an Artby Sandy Kulkarni

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mailto:sandy.kulkarni108%40gmail.com%0D?subject=mailto:sandy.kulkarni108%40gmail.com%0D?subject=mailto:sandy.kulkarni108%40gmail.com%0D?subject=mailto:sandy.kulkarni108%40gmail.com%0D?subject=


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Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas

by Amiee Modic

Aliate News

CAST StrandWorkshops

A Demo A Week Makes Science Class Peak by Vinay Dulip

Characteristics of Maer & Atomic Theory by Claudia Wallace and Jane Smith Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry by Claudia Wallace and Jane Smith Classroom Demonstrations for Concepts in General Chemistry by Dr. Vickie M. Williamson and

Thomas Jose

Cooperative Learning in the Chemistry Classroom by Kathleen Holley Gases, Solutions & Nuclear by Claudia Wallace and Jane Smith Incorporating New TEKS into Old Favs. by Pieree Jones Molecular Motivation by Sharon Williams No Time for Lab? Take It Home!!! Help by Amiee Modic Periodic Table & Bonding by Claudia Wallace and Jane Smith The Impossible Dream (or Mission Impossible); Chemistry for Everyone by Melissa Jones, Terri

Simmons and Shelley Abernathy The Lowly Penny; How it can be a Lab Tool by Walt Shackle Using ChemSketch in the Classroom for Molecular Modeling by Efren Rodriguez

Short Courses A Dozen Calculations from the Revised Chemistry TEKS by Dr. Dianna Mason and Dr. Deborah

Koeck - Short Course (6 hrs) New to Teaching Chemistry? Let Us Help by Amiee Modic and Barbara Schumann - Short

Course (6 hrs)

by Rosemary Martin NEWLY UPDATED TO

THE REVISED TEKS!Supporting Science, Inc.

Interactive manipulative activities & games

Teach, review, tutor & assess

Cover concepts & process skills

Engage learners with visuals & color

Differentiate for special populations

ScienceTEKS Charts

All the featuresyou love for a

low price!K-2, 3-5,

6-8 or 9-12

ScienceTEKS Charts

All the featuresyou love for a

low price!K-2, 3-5,6-8 or 9-12

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Aliate News

Recent changes to the K-12 Texas ScienceTEKS now have recommended and required instruc-tion time for eld and lab investigations. Although

we all applaud the inclusion of these new require-ments, they create additional demands on teacherswho are already stretched for time and resources.Informal science institutions and the Informal Sci-ence Education Association (ISEA) oer solutionsto classroom teachers. Informal science educationinstitutions are often rich in resources, tools andequipment, science professionals, and TEKS-basedexperiences tailored to meet student needs. The mis-sion of ISEA is to increase the capacity of science-

rich informal education institutions to support andpartner with formal, K-12 education eorts in Texas.Why reinvent the wheel when you have partnersthat are eager to share their resources?

Perhaps youre an eighth grade teacher look-ing for a way to teach how land forms change overtime. On a guided eld trip to Canyon Lake Gorge,students can be led by educated sta and gain a bet-ter understanding of the dynamics of earth process-es equipped with topographical maps, before andafter satellite photos, and GPS units. These experi-ences not only meet the new eld investigation re-quirements, but they educate students in a powerfuland memorable way that is dicult to accomplish inthe classroom.

Students arent the only ones that can benetfrom informal science institutionsteachers can

too! Many of these institutions oer professionaldevelopment opportunities ranging from one-dayin-service workshops to week-long eld expe-riences.

These trainings often focus on content infor-mation, techniques, or both. Frequently, these work-shops or institutes are grant funded and oered to

teachers at low or no cost and include equipmentand resources for the classroom. You cant beat that!

Get acquainted with some of our membersand oerings at CAST. Stop by our booth in Ali-ate Row or aend some of the sessions and eldtrips oered in the ISEA strand. The ISEA strandhighlights the resources available from informaleducation entities and opportunities for TEKS-basedprograms for both students and teacher professional

development. Sessions are relevant for informaleducators looking to share methods, resources, andsupport.

Mark your calendars now for our upcomingannual conference slated for February 25-27, 2011at Balcones Springs Resortand Conference Centerlocated in the heart of the Hill Country outside ofMarble Falls. Visit the website for more information.hp://www.statweb.org/ISEA/home.htm

We want to be your partners in science! Weinvite you to contact any of our institutions andlet us know what we can do for you. Our board ishappy to assist you in locating your local resources.Our board contact information can be found byclicking here. We look forward to hearing from youand working to build a more science literate com-munity.

Informal Science Education AssociationISEA

by Cappy Smith

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Texas Earth Science Teachers AssociationTESTA

by Gail Gant

Aliate News

TESTA will be oering Texas teachers anexciting array of short courses, workshops andeld trips during this years CAST conference

in Houston. Workshops range from providingtips on meaningful techniques for enhancingyour students abilities to use the vocabulary ofscience to methods involving integrating mathand science in signicant ways. The topics beingexplored range from astronomy and rocketry tomapping, plate tectonics and the rock cycle.

TESTA is also proud to present a sessionentitled Ask a Geologist which will provideparticipants with a forum in which to ask aprofessional geologist questions related to topicsthey cover in their classrooms or any other ques-tions that strike ones fancy. Another valuablesession will inform participants of the many re-sources available from the American Associationof Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). Make sure notto miss the TESTA Rock Rae which is always afun way to gather materials for ones classroom

as well as great rock and mineral samples. An-other popular session is the TESTA share-a-thonwhich will take place in conjunction with theTAEE and HISD share-a-thons this year. Drop byand pick up lots of great ideas that can be put toimmediate use in the classroom.

For those interested in a more in-depth ex-ploration of an area of interest, TESTA will be of-fering a short course each day of the conference.

These courses will provide resources for teachingabout Earth forces, mapping, and using inquiryto explore mud in ways that will make studentseager to learn more.

In addition, Houston and its environswill be explored through a variety of eld trips.Spend a day at the Lunar and Planetary Insti-

tute and learn ways in which to prepare for theupcoming Year of the Solar System. Anotheroption is to spend a day exploring the coastalchanges and current hazards taking place innearby Galveston and see how mans desire tolive by the coast can impact and be impacted bythe relentless forces of nature. A great half-dayeld trip option is to take advantage of a visit tothe Houston Gem and Minerals Show where onecan explore aisle after aisle of beautiful rock andmineral samples as well as fossils and jewelry.

Dont forget to drop by the TESTA boothwhere you can nd helpful ideas for implement-ing Earth science lessons into your curriculum.

TESTA is excited to be able to oer suchan array of options to Texas educators. We lookforward to seeing you at CAST in November!

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The TMEA Fall Workshop will be on theweekend of September 24-26. Join us as we explorethe geology of Corpus Christi and collect fossils from

a rock quarry in the area with a professor from TexasA & M Kingsville. The workshop agenda and appli-cation will be posted soon on the TMEA web page.

Several TMEA members aended the NMEAConference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The high pointof the conference for those from Texas was beingpresent when our own Dr. Rick Tinnin was awardedan Honorary Lifetime Membership in NMEA for hiscontributions to Marine Education in Texas and forhis many years of service in NMEA.

The emails have been ying back and forththis spring and summer as TMEA has proposed andhad approved a full TMEA Strand for the CAST Con-ference in Houston on November 11-13, 2010 at theGeorge R. Brown Convention Center. Register earlyto be sure you can take your pick of the short coursesand the eldtrip. Short courses will be oered onThursday and Friday. Workshops will proceed up

the food chain with presentations: Primarily Plank-ton! Eating Cnidarians Without Geing Stungand Have Fun with Squid and Fish in your Class-room. There is a small charge for each short course.

TMEA will repeat the very successful eldtripto Galveston Island State Park that was oered lastyear at CAST on Thursday, November 11. In addi-

tion to beach and bay explorations, observe the coast-al prairies response to Hurricane Ike and learn howto make seed balls. Take home a power point on thebeach and bay habitats to share with your studentsand look forward to the rae for awesome doorprizes.

A variety of workshops will be available onFriday and Saturday: All in the Same Boat, Plank-ton Done the Easy Way, Dipping and Diving IntoOcean Literacy, and Sea Creatures in the Class-room.

Be sure to drop by the double-wide TMEAbooth in the exhibit hall, say hello, and see the newdisplays. When you register for CAST, make sureyou renew your TMEA membership and sign up forthe TMEA Breakfast Meeting on Saturday morning.Expect some neat door prizes!

Check out the TMEA Strand Page in the ali-ate section of the CAST Program for detailed infor-mation. For more information on TMEA, visit ourwebpage hp://statweb.org/TMEA/.

Texas Marine Education AssociationTMEA

by Nathan Veatch

Fish Print: Making sh prints will be the high point of theHave Fun with Fish and Squid Short Course.

Squid Beak: Locate and identify the squids beak in the

Have Fun with Fish and Squid Short Course.

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Friday, November 12, 2010 Room 372 BE

8:30 9:45 amMiddle and High School. Session 5:Teaching and Learning in Physics in the 21st CenturyWhat does it mean to teach 21st century skills in science andreach students who learn dierently than their teachers?Presenter: Hugh Henderson

10:00 11:15 amHigh School. Session 6:Incorporating PhET Simulations into Physics InstructionThe Physics Educational Technologies (PhET) project has pro-vided some incredible, no-cost simulations that can be used in

a variety of ways in high school physics classes.Presenters: Paul Williamson and Tom OKuma

1:30 2:45 pmMiddle and High School. Session 7:Hands-on ElectromagnetismWe will explore the interactions of electricity, magnetismand light, and will build electromagnetic systems including aspeaker, a motor, and an electric guitar.Presenters: Andrew Wallace and David Bixler

3:00 4:15 pmMiddle and High School. Session 8:Engagement Activities for the Physics ClassroomWe will demonstrate several engagement activities that pro-mote student inquiry through hands-on experience in motion,forces, energy, momentum, impulse, and circuits.Presenters: Stephanie Ingle, Susan Butler & Janet Dickinson

4:30 5:45 pmHigh School. Session 9:Current Issues in Texas Physics EducationUpdates on graduation plans, the new Physics TEKS, the Col-

lege Readiness Standards, end-of-course exams, course rede-sign, dierentiation, teacher training and student engagementwill be discussed.Presenter: Hugh Henderson

Saturday, November 13, 2010 Room 372 BE

8:30 9:45 amMiddle and High School. Session 10:iTouch, iDo, iLearn PhysicsThis session introduces an accelerometer app on the iPodTouch or iPhone to measure acceleration and other quantities.Presenters: Michael Strange, Byron Barre, & Ma Walker

10:00 11:15 pmMiddle and High School. Session 11:Spotlighting the Physics of the Large Hadron Collider UsingProject Based LearningThis workshop will present several projects using the phys-

ics of the LHC to allow students to develop simple bubblechambers to analyze particle motion, use magnetic trackers,count and calculate the rate of cosmic rays, and compile otherdata.Presenter: Evelyn Restivo

1:30 2:45 pmMiddle and High School. Session 12:History and Use of the Laser in the Physics ClassroomThis year has been designated the Year of the Laser by APSand AAPT, and the development of the use of lasers in theintroductory physics classroom is very interesting fromlarge expensive lasers to cheap lasers you can keep on yourkeychain.Presenter: Hugh Henderson

Texas Section, American Association of Physics TeachersTSAAPT

by Hugh Henderson

Visit the TSAAPT/AAPT Booth in the Exhibit Hall!

TSAAPT Aliate Strand (Physics and Physical Science):Teaching and Learning in Physics in the 21st Century

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The June 2010 TSELA Meeting was held at OurLady of the Lake University, San Antonio with 150members registered and 160+ aended the meeting.

Highlights of the meeting included a welcome from ourgracious host Dr. Thomas Gadsden from the ScienceEducation Department at OLLU; a TEA updated fromKenn Heydrick; a description of the 2010 CAST frompast STAT President and 2010 CAST Chair Patsy Magee;a STAT update from STAT President Joel Palmer.

Along with these notable speakers we had aVendor Fair with a venue of interactions with resource,materials, and equipment vendors from across the state.The meetings program highlighted upcoming profes-

sional development for the new TEKS, and two focusgroups for Texas science leaders to converse on districtscreated programs for the new TEKS as well as issues thatare beginning to develop. The Charles A. Dana Center,The Texas Regional Collaborative, and ESC Region 4provided hour-long programs to describe which profes-sional development opportunities would be availablefor teachers and science administrators this scal schoolyear. Overall, the June meeting was very informative forthe members as they begin to brainstorm and plan for

their science programs for this upcoming year. Thankyou to all who provided presentations and sponsorship.You made the meeting the success we pride our organi-zation in providing to the science leadership of Texas.

Make your plans now to aend the TSELA Meet-ing on November 10th, prior to the CAST Conference.Registration will be with the CAST registration. Be sureto pay your dues online at the same time! The Novem-

ber agenda will include news from Dr. Kenn Heydrick,Science Director at TEA, as well as several breakout

sessions specic to meeting the needs of supervisorsregarding the many tasks required of their assignmentswithin school districts, universities, and informal scienceorganizations. The keynote speaker is sure to provide

insights and new ideas towards implementation ofthe new TEKS for science. The agenda for the meet-ing will also include election of TSELA ocers for the

2010-2011year. On the ballot will be nominations forpresident-elect and secretary. The TSELA OutstandingScience Leadership Awardee, sponsored by CPO-DeltaEducation, will also be announced!

The TSELA strands at the CAST Conference willbe on Friday. Be sure to watch for TSELA Presents: inthe program for workshops and sessions focusing on therole of science leadership in the implementation of theTEKS and gearing towards the new STAAR and EOCAssessments.

As many of you have already noticed theTSELA ocial website is online, and is full of informa-tion for members and potential members. Please visitwww.tselaonline.org to look at the work that we have

been puing into this electronic communication tool. Weplan to highlight past presidents and awards winners ofthe organization; and the membership section is cur-rently being enhanced to provide members with variousinformation regarding member benets, professional

development resources, etc.

TSELA would like to announce that as of July24, 2010, the organization is ocially an associate groupof the National Science Teachers Association. TSELA isthe fourth science leadership association to be approval

by the board of directors; TSELA will join the Massa-chuses, New York, and Louisiana Science Leadershipgroups. Texas now has two associate groups: TexasCouncil of Elementary Science and Texas Science Educa-tion Leadership Association. The TSELA executive board

is very excited at this new connection to the NSTA.We look forward to seeing you at CAST!

Texas Science Education Leadership AssociationTSELA

by Terry Talley, Ed.D. Past-President and Vanessa Westbrook, President

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STAT

Oce

Mailing Address:5750 Balcones Dr.,

Ste 201Austin, TX 78731

Phone:(512) 491-6685

Fax:

(512) 873-7423www.statweb.org

[email protected]

ElectedOcers

AppointedPositions

President:Joel Palmer(972) [email protected]

Past President:Patsy Magee(409) [email protected]

President-Elect:Ross Ann Hill(806) [email protected]

Treasurer:Laurel Frank(281) [email protected]

Vice President:Tony Zahn(817) [email protected]

Secretary:Deidre Parish(469) [email protected]

Executive Director:Chuck Hempstead(512) [email protected]

CAST Exhibits Manager &Advertising Manager:Frank Butcher(281)[email protected]

TEA Representative:

Kenn Heydrick(512) [email protected]

Texas Science TeacherEditor:Joel Palmer(972) 882-7388

[email protected]

STATellite Editor:(512) [email protected]

34
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ACTAssociated Chemistry

Teachers of Texas

Amiee Modic

[email protected]

ISEAInformal Science

Education Association

Kiki Corry

[email protected]

TABTTexas Association of

Biology Teachers

Sarah Anderson

[email protected]

TAEETexas Association for

Environmental Education

Sally Wall

[email protected]

TCESTexas Council of

Elementary Science

Deborah Rang

[email protected]

TESTATexas Earth Science

Teachers Association

Gail [email protected]

TMEATexas Marine

Educators Association

Marolyn [email protected]

TSAAPTTexas Section of the

American Association of

Physics Teachers

Hugh [email protected].

tx.us

TSELATexas Science EducationLeadership Association

Vanessa [email protected]

35

C t t
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Need to nd your state legislators?

Search by zip code at:

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us

SBOE District 1 - Rene Nuez1521 Upson Dr.El Paso, TX 79902(915) 351-9923(512) 936-4319 fax

SBOE District 2 - Mary Helen Berlanga2727 Morgan Ave.Corpus Christi, TX 78405(361) 881-1000(361) 881-1028 fax

SBOE District 3- Rick Agosto205 N Presa, Ste B 200San Antonio, TX 78205(210) 226-7106(210) 226-7104 fax

SBOE District 4 - Lawrence A. Allen, Jr.4302 GrapevineHouston, TX 77045

(713) 433-4643(713) 556-7243 fax

SBOE District 5- Ken MercerPO Box 781301San Antonio, TX 78278(512) 463-9007(512) 936-7319 fax

SBOE District 6 - Terri Leo23516 Twin Oaks Dr. RR#5Spring, TX 77389(281) 257-0832 fax (call rst)

SBOE District 7- David Bradley2165 North St.Beaumont, TX 77701(409) 835-3808

SBOE District 8 - Barbara Cargill61 W. Wedgemere Cir.The Woodlands, TX 77381(281) 465-8095

SBOE District 9 - Don McLeroy9277 Brookwater Cir.

College Station, TX 77845(979) 255-2538

(979) 846-1174 fax

SBOE District 10 - Cynthia Noland Dunbar22123 Skyridge Ln.

Richmond, TX 77469(512) 463-9007

(512) 936-4319 fax

SBOE District 11 - Patricia Hardy900 N. Elm

Weatherford, TX 76086(817) 598-2968

(817) 598-2833 fax

SBOE District 12 - Geraldine Miller1100 Providence Tower West

Dallas, TX 75244

(972) 419-4000(214) 552-8560 fax

SBOE District 13 - Mavis B. KnightPO Box 763337

Dallas, TX 75376(214) 333-9575

(214) 339-9242 fax

SBOE District 14 - Gail Lowe11 Chris Ave.

Lampasas, TX 76550(512) 556-6262

(512) 556-3278 fax

SBOE District 15 - Bob CraigPO Box 1979

Lubbock, TX 79408(806) 744-3232

(806) 744-2211 fax

William B. Travis Building1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701-1494

Gail Lowe, ChairLawrence A. Allen, Jr., Vice Chair

Terri Leo, Secretary

36

C t t
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37

Want to be published?E-mail us your leers and articles!

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Mail or e-mail your submissions to:

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The views of the columnists in The STATellite do not necessarily represent the

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Changing your e-mail address? Login to your STATweb.org useraccount and update your information. If youve forgoen your

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