District News

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The following district directors have submitted news items for NCSTA members:

Not sure which district you are in? Check out the district map at the bottom of this page.

News from District 1
Director: Tammy Lee

First, I would like to thank everyone for their support of my nomination for District 1.  I am excited about this position and look forward to representing our district.  If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me at leeta@ecu.edu 

Below are some upcoming events for District 1:

  • GO Science is sponsoring a kick off event for IYA (International Year of Astronomy) at the Willis Building in Greenville starting around 10:00 a.m.  This will be an exciting event for families, students and community.  Come and learn about GO Science and IYA and what other events will be sponsored this year for the recognition of Galileo and 400 years since his development of the telescope. For more information contact Tammy Lee leeta@ecu.edu or Karen Dawkins dawkinsk@ecu.edu
  • Region 1 Northeast Regional Science Fair will be held February 21st Science and Technology Building East Carolina University.  For more information contact  Kristin Voytek (252) 328-9730 or Nancy Bray (252) 746-4494 Counties in Northeast Region are Hertford, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Currituck, Camden, Bertie, Pitt, Gates, Beaufort, Hyde, Washington, Dare, Tyrell, and Chowan
  • ECU’s Regional Science Olympiad will be held on Feb. 28, 2009. There will be a coach’s training check out the website for more information.  Teachers in the region will receive information about that. New coaches are encouraged to attend this session led by experienced (and successful) coaches.
  • District 1 Drive In Conference--- Science on the MOVE  STAY Green-- Saturday, March 28th 2009 from 9:00-3:00 Pocosin Lakes National Refuge Columbia NC for more information please contact Linda Woolard (woolardlin@ecu.edu) or Tammy Lee (leeta@ecu.edu)
  • There are several online programs or independent projects available for CEU credit this summer through the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education at ECU. Check the Center’s website for more information: http://www.ecu.edu/educ/csmte/.

At our NCSTA and Regional NSTA Conference this year in October we had several people from our District win awards.  See below; remember to nominate someone for an award, go ahead and work on it NOW, we have many people who deserve recognition. 

The Nancy Wynn Distinguished Service to Science Education is presented to Ann McClung.

The Don Bailey Distinguished Service in Science Education at the College/University level is awarded to Stan Riggs.

The Distinguished Service to Science Education in a Commercial Setting is presented to Curtis Ormond.

Outstanding Student Teacher in Science Awards
Student teachers who have completed their internship and have exhibited excellence in science teaching. The award at the high school level is awarded to Margaret Haberny.

District Outstanding Science Teacher Awards
Teachers in each district of NCSTA who exhibit excellence in teaching science and leadership in their school in science education. District 1 award went to Maria McDaniel.

News from District 2
Director: Rebecca Stanley

Welcome to 2009! I hope everyone had a restful break and feels refreshed and renewed in spirit. There are many exciting things happening in our district in the spring so look for emails from me concerning them. Our district drive-in will be on Saturday, March 28 at Brunswick Community College. The topic is the “Teacher’s Toolbox” and we will be featuring methods that help ensure student success like interactive notebooks, inquiry labs, and technology.

Points of Interest

Teacher Sharon Mooney-Hughes and her students at Topsail Middle School have been featured in a newspaper article for their work studying the water quality in the Intercoastal Waterway. Check out the interesting work they are doing and the impact it has on the students and community.

Pender Watch will be holding their annual meeting January 13, 2009. Local science students have been collaborating with the group to collect and analyze data. For more information visit http://www.penderwatch.org/

The UNCW Evolution Learning Community presents “Darwin’s Legacy” on March 19-21. There is a reduced Saturday only registration fee of $10.00 to encourage K-12 participation. This is an excellent opportunity for teachers to network with graduate students and scientists in the field of evolutionary sciences. For more information visit http://library.uncw.edu/web/outreach/evolution/conference/

Don’t forget about other upcoming events:

Blue Heron Bowl - February 21
Regional Science Fair - February 14
Regional Science Olympiad - March 14

News from District 3
Director: Carrie Jones

Welcome to the New Year! It's hard to believe the start of 2nd semester is upon us. I enjoyed seeing many familiar faces at the Charlotte Convention Center last October. I hope to see you also at the National Convention in New Orleans in March. If you cannot make that, perhaps you will consider attending the District 3 Spring Drive-In.

While details of this event have not yet been formalized, please send me an e-mail (ncscienceteacher@yahoo.com) if you are interested in presenting or participating in a Share-a-thon. When event details are known, I will confirm with you again.

Some other events/resources that are going on in the area:

Science House
www.science-house.org/teacher/

LEARN NC
www.learnnc.org/courses/current/

North Carolina Museum of Natural Science
www.naturalsciences.org/education/staffdev.html

NC Museum of Life and Science
www.ncmls.org/teachers

Shodor
www.shodor.org/educators/programs/

NC Teacher Academy
teacheracademy.org/

Wake Tech Ed2Go - Online classes for teaching professionals
www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/oic/render.cgi?webname=waketech&handler=courseListDepartment&departmentCode=IP

NC Biotechnology Center
www.ncbiotech.org/services_and_programs/education_support/

SMT Center
www.ncsmt.org/events.cal.php

News From District 4
Director: Ricky Flowers

Welcome to 2009. I hope everyone had a happy, restful Christmas holiday! Whether this is your first year of teaching or your thirty plus year of teaching, we all know the next five months will go fast and are packed with several events.

I want to thank those of you who attended the NSTA Regional Conference in Charlotte October 30th – November 1st of 2008. I hope you were able to expand your science knowledge through the many professional development opportunities offered there. I enjoyed meeting and talking with those of you who stopped by the NCSTA booth to visit.

Congratulations to the newest National Board Certified Teachers in District 4: from Bladen County – Angela Campbell and Christina Stevens; Columbus County – Joy Lewis, Ruthie Newman, Rebecca Ham and Melanie Capps; Cumberland County – Susan Bailey, Michelle Davis, Shannon Hancock, Angela Haynes, Jennifer Jones, Deborah King, Lynne Lewis, Lisa Packer, Christy Parker, Susanne Russ, Margie Smith, William Sochavka, Brian Suttell, Jacob Thomas, Jennifer Timmerman, Sandra Tobin, Susan Ward, Gina Warner, Corine Warren, Yvonne Wheeler, Cynthia Whetzel, and Susan Williams; Harnett County – Eileen Farley and Frances Spivey; Lee County – Tonya Comeaux, Paula Layton, Jenny Maczko, Kathryn Parker, Pamela Summers and Deborah Wilkes; Montgomery County – Anne Evans; Moore County – Rebekah Day; Scotland County – Joanna Cole and Margaret Johnson; Richmond County – Mary Geanes and Elizabeth Matheson – Smith; and Robeson County – Priscilla Causey – Pope and Phyllis King. Again, congratulations for a job well done.

Our Region IV Science Fair is scheduled for February 21st 2009 at UNC Pembroke. The students must submit their registration forms on line by the 15th of February. This and other information is found at http://www.uncp.edu/chem_phy/science_fair/index.htm. I will see you there. Good luck to those selected to attend the State Science Fair March 27 – 28, 2009 in Raleigh.

Also, our Regional Science Olympiad is scheduled for February 28th at FTCC in Fayetteville. Good luck to all of the participating teams. I know the coaches and students are working hard to earn a spot at the State Science Olympiad on April 25th.

Our Spring District Drive – In is tentatively scheduled for March 21st from 9 – 12. The location hasn’t yet been confirmed. Watch your inbox, a flyer will be forth coming soon.

I hope some of you will be able to attend the National Science Teachers Association Conference in New Orleans, LA. March 20 – 22, 2009. Hurry and sign up to get the early bird rates.

If I can assist you in any way, please email me at rickyflowers@ccs.k12.nc.us. Thank you and have a great second half of the school year.
Ricky Flowers

News From District 5
Director: Mark Case

I would like to introduce myself as your new District 5 Director.  I currently teach Earth/Environmental Science at Southern Guilford High School in Greensboro.  I have completed my lateral entry licensure from spending 18 years as a non-traditional environmental educator.

I want to learn from you!  You have needs, desires and experiences.  We can share all of those together.  You and I have the same problems in our classroom.  How do you take care of those problems?  How can I learn from you?

If each of us come together with this philosophy, then we all grow.  We all share and come away with new experiences.  This will be a great growth opportunity for all of us.

If you are looking for CEU at no out of pocket cost to you, consider DATASTREME classes.  Atmosphere and Ocean are both available for spring registration now.  It is a 12 week course open to all grades.  You get graduate level credits as well.  Contact me for more a registration form.

News From District 6
Director: Heather Edmisten

District 6- Drive In: The Know How Luau will be March 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Concord High School- Concord NC

You MUST register on website BEFORE Feb 21 in order to attend. NCSTA members are free with an additional cost for lunch. Non-member cost is listed on the webpage. if we do not have at least 20 people by Feb 21st we will cancel. Check out the Know How Luau webpage and register now.

Calling all teachers! District 6 is looking for presenters for the luau- if you are interested please contact district 6 director Heather Edmisten at hedmiste@cabarrus.k12.nc.us We are looking for ideas with technology or science integration! A great addition to any resume- presenting at science conferences.

Anyone who achieved national board status in Nov/Dec- please email me and let me know so that I can include that in our next newsletter! Congratulations!

News From District 7
Director: Rob Halpern

First, “Happy New Year” to all of you!  Second, special thanks to all of you who attended the NSTA regional conference in Charlotte, November 2008.  I was pleased to meet and greet some of you and I hope you had a chance to attend several of the great workshops, attend several of the off-site events, peruse the exhibit hall and sales tables, and enjoy camaraderie among your fellow science teachers.  I know that those of you who attended will join me in thanking all of the coordinators of this major event for a job well done.

In this newsletter, I am also pleased to introduce the new district seven director you elected:  Mr. Ron Halpern, Wilkes County Schools.  I wish Ron and his fellow district directors and officers the best in preparing for a new year and the state PDI in Greensboro (it’s back in November 2009).  

Keep an eye out for district Drive-In workshop information for your district and districts close by.  Please note the dates of these workshops and try to attend one or more of them. 

District seven also has several regional events coming up in February:

Please remember to encourage your colleagues and friends to join NCSTA and to nominate outstanding district seven teachers for the variety of awards.

Thank you for your support and information over the past two and a half years and best wishes to all of you for a prosperous 2009!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Bustle
Outgoing District 7 Director
Davie County Schools

News From District 8
Director: Teresa Cowan

Happy New Year from District 8 …

Updates from the NSTA Professional Development Institute – Halloween, 2008

  • Congratulations to all honorees at the convention but District 8 would like to call special attention to our District Honorees.
  • Martha Cowan – teacher at AC Reynolds High School in Buncombe County received the District 8 High School TOY.
  • Martha Newton – teacher at Polk County Middle School in Polk County received the District 8 Middle School TOY.
  • Becky Moody – Robbinsville Elementary in Graham County received the District 8 Elementary School TOY.
  • Michelle Benigno – Science House representative from Henderson County within District 8 received the Non-public school setting award.
  • Dr. Patricia Bricker – Professor at WCU received the Distinguished Service to Elementary Science award from District 8.

Communication Outreach

  • Remember to contact me (thembree@bellsouth.net) with news, celebrations, workshops, questions, and suggestions.
  • I NEED INFORMATION from your counties. Please consider helping with communication within your county.

Membership Opportunities

  • Drive-In Workshops are coming in the spring. Look for details before the end of February. Topic and location for spring 2009 has not been confirmed. Conference will be free for members and a minimal cost for nonmembers (aka: recruits). If you have ideas, are interested in attending, and/or interested in presenting please contact me.

For Your Information: COOL opportunities for you, your students, or both

  • Live Bat Programs: These are amazing. We saw them first hand in Charlotte- special Halloween presentation for NSTA participants. Kids of all ages will love this program. Check out their website for details: www.batconservation.org.
  • PEAK Conference: Preparing Educators for Adventures with Kids- Eighth annual Outdoor Education Conference (professional development) sponsored by YMCA Camp Greenville held February 12-14. Check out their website for details: www.campgreenville.org.
  • Summer Programs: For summer professional development opportunities check out: www.nsta.org/publications/calendar.
  • Listings for grants, awards, and fellowships check out: www.ncsta.org and www.nsta.org/publications/calendar.
  • Animation for DUMMIES (or novices): Check out www.GoAnimate.com for an interactive learning tool for teachers. Awesome way to improve your animation skill for use in the classroom.

Happy New Year! Have a great winter and spring. Keep in touch and remember to contact me with information to share about your school, county, etc. Look for details concerning the DRIVE-IN conference. Hope to see many members and recruits at the conference.

 

Current Issue | Archives | NCSTA

The Science Reflector
Newsletter of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association
P.O. Box 33478, Raleigh, NC 27636
Elizabeth Snoke Harris, Editor