Understanding the Need for Change

17 responses so far ↓

• 1    Jeremy // Aug 20, 2007 at 11:12 am

  Team members,

  Due to scarce resources I have limited funds available to pay for the National Science Conference in November. However, I would like to bring a few members from each of the design teams that will be helping to move the district forward. The conference is on November 8-10 (two days would require subs). To send one person to the conference for all three days can get pricey since there are subs required as well. I wanted to have a conversation about this with all of you. If you have any thoughts or comments, please post a reply so I can best determine who to send to the conference. Thanks,
  Jeremy

• 2    Anne Atherton // Aug 20, 2007 at 11:46 am

  I went to a NSC when I was student teaching and they have some great resources. I think that this will be a great place to look at textbooks for adoption. So whoever is interested in that should definately sign-up. I would like to go, depending on the number attending. I only need a sub for Friday since I only work on day 1 at LHS. I hope that there is a large response so we can have as many people as possible attend! Thanks Jeremy for setting this up! Hope everyone is having a great 1st day of school!

  Anne Atherton

• 3    Shelley Todd // Aug 20, 2007 at 12:39 pm

  Jeremy,

  I think I am already paid for through the BSI program from last year, but I need to check for sure. Do you have Tim Henson’s email?

  Shelley Todd

• 4    Elizabeth Towlen // Aug 20, 2007 at 12:44 pm

  I will be covered by either the principal or BSI.

• 5    Barbara Keith // Aug 20, 2007 at 1:37 pm

  I would love to have the opportunity to attend an NSTA convention. I have been teaching for 24 years and have only had one opportunity to attend this convention, only because it was held in Colorado.

• 6    jeremyl // Aug 20, 2007 at 4:06 pm

  Registration fees for two–three days:
  Earlybird Advance Full Rate
  Current NSTA member or applicant $125
  CAST/ACS members $125
  Nonmember $199
  Retired NSTA member $70
  International (except Canada) $70
  Full-time student $55
  Nonteaching spouse/guest $50

  Registration fees for one day only/last day only:
  Earlybird Advance Full Rate
  One day only $110
  One day only—full-time student $25 $
  Last day only—Saturday $75
  Last day only—full-time student $25

• 7    Paulette Holland // Aug 20, 2007 at 6:44 pm

  I think you should consider the old veteran teachers first. Of course I am prejudiced. I also think there should be a smaller percentage of elementary, then middle, and the largerst % should be high school teachers. Finally, I would select teachers in various content areas. I think it would be fair to have the teachers going do a small presentation to those who don’t get to go. Maybe those who are selected could chose different sessions to go to so everyone could get a good overview.

• 8    Cheri Giammo // Aug 21, 2007 at 7:52 pm

  Here’s my two cents. I feel that there should only be one representative from each school. Whether those individuals are coming from elem, middle or high schools is a tough one. Since there are so many more elementaries, maybe they can share with each other the info or ideas among common feeder schools. Just a suggestion. I believe BSI is paying for the “Ready, Set, Science” class from last school year, so I get a freebie this year.

• 9    Susan Blanchard // Aug 21, 2007 at 11:11 pm

  This is going to be a tough decision – should we write an essay on why we think we should go? lol – I have never had a chance to go to a national science convention and would love the opportunity!

• 10    M. Travis O'Hair // Aug 22, 2007 at 8:50 am

  Jeremy,
  I know that both Scott Duckworth and I are very interested in attending and we are both working to get Tom Stumpf to pay for our attendance, as to free up two more spots for others to attend. I have not yet been to an NSTA conference, so I am very excited to attend. As far as the selection process is concerned, I leave that totally up to you! I am sure you will select a good group of teachers to represent the SVVSD.

• 11    Robyn Sloan // Aug 22, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  I feel every building should be sending someone with their best interests at heart any way they can swing it.

  I would like to be included for the reason that we will be facing textbook adoption soon (we hope) and the convention is a great way to get started on sorting out chioces available. Teachers who are willing to pilot new textbooks should be given priority considering all the extra work they are willing to do that benefits all of us science teachers in the district.

  (It’s possible that this can be a personal expense teachers may claim on their taxes that benefits their students and classroom, or might be used for recertification.)

• 12    Mick Huiet // Aug 23, 2007 at 12:27 pm

  As standards are changing, elementary science kits are being adopted, elementary science standards are daunting to cover, and the everloving CSAP science test is creeping downward, I think each building could use a representative if possible. Barring that, we’ll have to rely on the folks who are on the adoption committee to spread the good words.

  Jeremy, could you pay partial registration fees? My principal has some money, but wants to dole it out throughout the year.

• 13    Barry Cartwright // Aug 23, 2007 at 1:45 pm

  Ideally I think each building should have a representative go. Since this may not be possible, then the folks on adoption commitees should have priority. After this, given the amount of professional development that is avavilable a conference, I think NEW teachers should have priority (plus the fact they make so much less and therefore might not be able to afford it as easily).

  I also like the idea of having to write an essay or proposal to have St Vrain pay for you to go. How will you use the experience, what committees are you serving on that it would be applicable, how will share what you learn with colleagues?

  Given that elementary teachers are often weak in science content and delivery, they should have priority as well, especially if they are willing to spread what they pick up through their school and beyond.

  Lets remember that any of us can go, this is just about who sub and registration is going to be paid for.

• 14    Jessicca Shaffer // Aug 23, 2007 at 7:01 pm

  It would be nice to have a representative from each building, and if not, then I’d go with the curriculum adoption teams. I know I would like to go, just for one day, but my principal is also hesitant on spending the money just yet.

• 15    jeremyl // Aug 24, 2007 at 10:36 am

  This could be an option for some people that cannot get funded as well:

  Dear Supporters of Science Education:

  NSTA is coming to Denver this November! The fall regional conference for NSTA will be held at the Denver Convention Center November 8-10, 2007 and we are in need of many volunteers to make this conference a success! Volunteers assist with registration and coordination of services for conference attendees. Anyone who volunteers is eligible to receive either a 50% or 100% registration discount for the conference. If you would like to help as a volunteer please complete the attached form and return it to teresa.higgins@unco.edu by September 20, 2007. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request and we hope to see you in November!

  Cordially,
  Dr. Teresa Higgins
  University of Northern Colorado
  Biological and Science Education
  970.351.2617

• 16    Nancy Ferraro // Aug 27, 2007 at 9:17 pm

  I will be attending all 3 days, as will Kelley Crispin and Jodi Willden from Burlington. Our principal is going to pay for our registration since we do afterschool science club for minimum pay. I will also be doing some activities for Steve Spangler.

• 17    Marilyn Frade // Aug 29, 2007 at 3:34 pm

  I agree that it would be nice to send a representative from each school. Of course if that is not possible, then priority should be given to members of textbook adoption committees. There should be a requirement for teachers attending that they somehow disseminate the information to teachers (in their building) who weren’t able to go. This is a tough decision because it’s not everyday that the national convention comes to town. Are there teachers who are NSTA members? I am and know that registration is cheaper because of it. I will try to get my principal to pay if possible and think she would be willing.

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