Position Statement and Goals: 

This presidential term will begin the year that full implementation of the 2019 MN Science Standards will take place across the state and the MCA-IV will be used with many Minnesota students.  As a result, a single word goal comes to mind--Support. Support for preschool through postsecondary teachers in the classroom or outdoors working to implement the new standards, for students learning in new ways, for administrators considering how to support the implementation across their buildings, for informal educators continuing to inspire and explore with students.  We all will still be continuing to learn, reflect and grow to implement the 2019 Science Standards, current best practices in science education and to ensure that both teachers and students can access support-- let’s be better together!  

In order to do this, I will focus my time, energy and support of the board to continue to help all levels and types of members be better together--through Learning, Partnership and Access to the support needed to offer Minnesota students a fantastic science experience. 

Learning:

*Goal: Learning opportunities are built and expanded upon based on membership needs and the transition towards implementation of the new standards and best practice in science education.

• Reflect on feedback to offer relevant and timely options for what members need.
• Grow & diversify the number, type and topics of learning opportunities available
• Use social media, websites and in-person learning to grow our own curiosity and content knowledge and do science together. As practitioners of science ourselves we should take time to enjoy and stay curious about Science itself!

Partnership: 

*Goal: MnSTA members, non-members, and other organizations recognize MnSTA as a partner to collaborate with and learn from on the current best practices in the field of science education.    

• Facilitate role-alike connection groups for members to learn from others with similar interests, roles, or focus areas.
• Coordinate with other education and partnering organizations to ensure they have the needed information to support educators in using best practices for science education (i.e., Administrator, School Board, &/or Informal organizations, etc).
• Grow collaboration with other science organizations and with other disciplines within the state to connect professional learning opportunities, topics, and members. 
• Investigate opportunities to unite individuals or groups that are successfully implementing best practice teaching that they are willing to share with others.

Access: 

Goal:  Students and educators have equal access to the support needed for them to learn, grow, and practice science.  Students and educators see themselves, their roles/grade levels, and their lived experiences as valued and needed in science. 

• Diverse learning and connection options and platforms allow for more educators to access what they need, when they need it.
• Preschool and Elementary Science teachers are supported and celebrated practice strategies for teaching science and the connections between science and other core content and key strategies. 
• Increased access to learning opportunities to honor student experiences, place-based learning, and Indigenous contributions.