As we begin a new year, NCSTA is stepping up its efforts to expand connections and strengthen lines of communication among science educators in North Carolina. Our Regional Directors will soon be contacting the person in each school district who is responsible for managing the science curriculum within the district. They will be explaining the many advantages of NCSTA membership, asking each district to encourage science teachers to join NCSTA and offering their services in providing the teachers with resources and information that will help them to grow professionally. At the same time, our Non-public School Committee will communicate with non-public schools across the state and make them a similar offer.

We are also working to strengthen an exchange of information between the Regional Directors and science museums, centers, aquariums, state parks and state forests in each region of North Carolina. This will enable us to provide science teachers with the latest information about resources, workshops, fieldtrips and guest speakers that are offered from these sites.

We are planning a special session at our yearly Professional Development Institute (PDI) that will help us to better connect with higher education departments of Science Education and with college students, who are preparing to become science teachers (K-12). Our Regional Directors are also connecting with those colleges, universities and community colleges so that we can assist in providing our members with accurate and prompt information about professional development opportunities offered from these sites. In the future, we would also like to provide aspiring science teachers with information about teaching opportunities that are available in North Carolina schools.

Another goal for NCSTA is to constantly improve member services. This year the organization has increased the amount of funds for Curriculum Grants and Study Grants that are available to science teachers who are members of NCSTA. In addition, members will be able to vote for NCSTA Board Members on-line. Members will be able to login to vote by using their last name, and their membership number will serve as their password. (Members, be sure to record your number so that it will be handy when voting.) Check the next issue of The Reflector for the date that on-line voting begins and a list of candidates. Starting soon you will be able to join NCSTA or re-new your membership on-line. You will also be able to register for the November 9-10 Professional Development Institute (PDI) on-line.

Past NCSTA President, Renee Coward, is working very hard to make this year’s PDI into the best possible learning experience for science teachers at all grade levels. The theme for this year is: “Solving the Mystery of Great Science Teaching”. In addition to wonderful hands-on activities and presentations, the PDI will be set up with important strands by science topic and grade level. There will be a full array of activities that allow teachers to explore forensic science. Participate in an on-going investigation to solve a mysterious crime! Collect and analyze data and put your deductive skills up against other science teachers, as everyone tries to solve the mystery.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will present a strand of presentations and demonstrations about the Standard Course of Study for all of the tested science courses and for science instruction at all grade levels. Master teachers will share their “best practices” throughout other strands. These stands include environmental science, middle school science, elementary school science as well as strands for the Life, Earth and Physical Sciences.

An added feature of the PDI this year will be a series of Share-a-thons. Each Share-a-thon will consist of 12-15 science educators, who will demonstrate their favorite science activity for a certain theme. Within a one-hour period of time, participants will be able to see 12-15 activities and collect a handout for each activity. The themes will include K-2 Science, 3-5 Science, 6-8 Science, Biology, Chemistry (and Lab Safety), Physics, Earth Science (Astronomy, Oceanography, Geology, and Meteorology), Marine Science and Environmental Science.

And don’t forget the many vendors at the PDI who will share their ideas, resources and materials to registered participants. YOU might want to bring a few empty boxes and a hand-truck with you, so that you can take home all of the materials and handouts that you will gather at the Professional Development Institute. Make sure that you reserve a lot of personal memory space for the many ideas that you will gather!

See you in Greensboro at the NCSTA-PDI on November 9-10, 2006!