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Jennifer Aakre is the new Region 1 & 2 - Northwest Representative

Jennifer teaches science in grades 8 - 12 at TrekNorth. She has been at TrekNorth for the past 14 years teaching AP Environmental Science and Biology, non-AP Environmental and Earth Science, and middle school Earth Science, along with High School Health. In addition to teaching, Jennifer coaches the Envirothon team and is a mentor to new science teachers at her school. 

Eric Kehoe is the new Region 9 - South Representative

Eric has been teaching science at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton for the past 18 years. He has taught all of the sciences offered at his school except Life Science and all grades except 7th grade. He has presented at MnCOSE multiple times, has collaborated with researchers at the U of M to publish a few papers in J. Chem. Ed., and served as union president and a mentor teacher.

Kandy Noles Stevens is the new Outstate Elementary Representative

Dr. Kandy Noles Stevens' doctoral research examined what endures from elementary science methods courses into the first years of a teaching career as an elementary educator. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Education at Southwest Minnesota State University. She is also a Jeffers Foundation facilitator. She sees her job as "promoting science learning in informal learning settings, providing assistance to regional schools and educators on how to adjust to teaching the new science standards, promoting learning outdoors, and advancing equity and justice in science teaching and learning."

Nikki Ojanen is the new Region 3 - Northeast Representative

Nikki has been teaching since 2009, most of that time in Cloquet, including her current school, Cloquet Middle School. When asked why she was interested in a position on the MnSTA Board she replied, "I would love to be able to represent our region and learn more about science education on a broader level than just what is going on in my school. The opportunity to network, form connections with, and learn from other science educators around the state would be so beneficial!"

Also starting her term as President-Elect at the July Board meeting was Jill Jensen

Jill has been teaching science for 26 years, 14 years at the middle school level, and 12 years as a K-5 science specialist. She is currently at Scott Highlands Middle School. Jill has presented at MnCOSE and previously served as the Metro Elementary Rep to the MnSTA Board. When asked what her goals were for MnSTA she replied, "increase collaboration and communication across our organization to help us DO science, share ideas and learn together." Jill would also like to focus on the new science standards, elementary science education, and professional growth.