NSTA’s Guiding Principles
- Model excellence;
- Champion science literacy;
- Value scientific excellence;
- Embrace diversity, equity, and respect;
- Enhance teaching and learning through research;
- Collaborate with partners; and
- Exemplify a dynamic professional organization.
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of more than 55,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education.
NSTA’s Mission: “ … to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.”
Journals and Publications
To address subjects of critical interest to science educators, the Association publishes a professional journal for each level of science teaching; a 52-page newspaper, NSTA Reports; and many other educational books and professional publications. Publications, books, posters, and other educational tools are available through the NSTA Recommends catalog and online.
Professional Development
NSTA offers a wide range of professional development opportunities for science educators at all levels, including the NSTA Learning Center, NSTA Conferences on Science Education, Research Dissemination Conferences, NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Teachers, and much more.
Conferences
To enhance professional development and provide networking forums for science educators, each year NSTA conducts a national conference and a series of area conferences. These events attract over 30,000 attendees annually. At the conferences, teachers may choose from hundreds of workshops, demonstrations and presentations covering every discipline, grade level, and teaching focus. They hear nationally renowned speakers address the hottest topics in science education and learn about the latest breakthroughs from experts in the field.
Building a Presence for Science
This initiative—NSTA’s largest to date—seeks to strengthen the quality of science teaching by ending teacher isolation and promoting standards-based science teaching and learning. A key component of the program is the creation of a dynamic national electronic network that will allow for information sharing among teachers and create a viable two-way communications conduit that can be used by state and federal agencies and other organizations that need to share information with science teachers. Through the Building a Presence for Science program, NSTA works with local science teachers associations, state science education institutions, and private sector partners to identify a Point of Contact (representative for science) in every public and private school building in the United States. Thanks to the generous support of The ExxonMobil Foundation, the program has been implemented in 33 states and the District of Columbia.
Awards and Recognition Programs
The Association and its sponsors reward and recognize teachers and students with cash awards, school supplies and materials, trips to our national convention, US savings bonds, and more each year. NSTA administers awards, grants, and a student competition to recognize the professional efforts of teachers and the innovative talents of their students.
Advocating for Science and Science Teachers
The Association serves as an advocate for science educators by keeping its members and the general public informed about national issues and trends in science education. NSTA disseminates results from nationwide surveys and reports and offers testimony to Congress on science education-related legislation and other issues. The Association develops position statements on issues such as teacher preparation, laboratory science, use of animals in the classroom, laboratory safety, and elementary and middle level science. Each year, the Association's legislative network reaches nearly a half million educators.
Governance
The NSTA governance is a Board of Directors consisting of the 10 division directors and the elected officers. The Executive Director is a nonvoting, ex-officio secretary and there is a nonvoting ex-officio treasurer. There are three elected members in the presidential chain: the president-elect, the president and the retiring president. Each of their terms is one year.
In addition, NSTA has a Council (composed of district directors and affiliates) and a Congress (composed of the leadership of NSTA's Chapters and Associated Groups. The Congress will meet each summer for the purpose of identifying and examining issues from the local perspective. The Council's main purpose is to craft proposed initiatives from the messages of the Congress. Beyond membership on the Council, the roles and responsibilities of the district directors is still to be determined.
Staff
There are approximately one hundred full-time staff at NSTA headquarters working within six divisions. The leaders of the divisions are listed below.
- Executive Office: Dr. Gerald Wheeler
- Operations: Moira Baker
- Professional Programs: Frank Owens
- Publications & Products: David Beacom
- Professional Development: Rowena Douglas
- Conferences & Meetings: Delores Mason
- Government Partnerships & e-Learning: Al Byers
- Membership: Howard Walhberg
The Strategic Plan: Strategy 2005
A number of issues stand out as crucial to the strategic direction of NSTA. In the spring of 2005, NSTA’s leadership implemented Strategy 2005—the organization's strategic plan that identified four critical goals that will guide and inform NSTA's efforts over the next five years:
- Engage All Teachers of Science Continually to Improve Science Education
- Improve Student Learning by Supporting and Enhancing Science Teaching
- Advocate for the Importance of Science, Both Science Literacy and the Development of Scientific Expertise
- Enhance Science Education Through Research-Based Policy and Practice
The Challenges Ahead
Many challenges face educators today, and NSTA will continue to advocate for excellence in science education.
A significant part of accomplishing our mission and meeting the challenges of the 21st century is to engage corporate America to explore partnerships and alliances that will have a positive impact on science education. The Association is uniquely positioned to help facilitate collaborative efforts between corporate America and the science education community. We envision the development of mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with business leaders who want to make a difference in science education.
To address the critical need for new and exciting models of professional development, NSTA will seek funding for a “sponsored” position on the national staff. The individual who fills this very visible position will be responsible for designing, testing and implementing professional development strategies that will inform and affect professional development nationwide.
