Michael Tally
Nominee - Michael Tally
Mike has dedicated his professional career to the promotion of effective science instruction. His work history includes both classroom teaching and administration with experiences at the kindergarten elementary, middle, secondary and collegiate levels. He has spearheaded a wide variety of learning opportunities for numerous North Carolina science teachers and their students, and is particularly recognized for his efforts that encourage science instruction in authentic settings which may be outside the traditional classroom. He holds a deep appreciation of the natural wonders of the world and frequently travels to some of its most unique natural settings. These trips are not just for his personal pleasure, but also provide a venue for him to generate instructional resources and learning opportunities which focus on environmental science for others. Mike has sustained his membership in NCSTA for many years and served on its Board as the chair of several standing committees. He currently holds the position of District 3 Director. In addition to North Carolina Science Teacher Association, he is currently a member of the following professional organizations; NSTA, NCEE , and the International Focus Group. He is retired as the Ecotours Director and Secondary Science Coordinator for Wake County Schools. Mike lives in Cary, North Carolina.
Position Statement:
As a lifelong member of NCSTA I have worked with this organization in many roles. Currently I am District 3 Director and in the recent past have served as the Awards Committee chairperson and the Nominations/ Election Committee chair. My career has allowed me to work at every level of education K-college Not only have these experiences been personally enjoyable, but they have given me the opportunity to recognize and understand the status of science education in North Carolina, as well as, the needs of our science teachers and their students. Our state faces many current issues, such as climate change, fresh water demands, sea level rise, fracking and coal ash ponds. To help solve these problems we will need members of society to be scientifically literate. Our job as science educators is to help students attain a level of scientific literacy that equips them with appropriate skills and accurate knowledge so they can contribute to a serious discussion on these larger issues. We know and accept that not all students will pursue science careers, but when students graduate from high school, they should understand that science is a dynamic process. Students should also realize that the choices regarding scientific issues which they make now and in the future will impact policies regarding energy consumption, natural resources, the environment, and the overall health of generations to come. As president elect of NCSTA my goal is to help science teachers throughout North Carolina prepare students to face the science-related concerns that they will encounter. With your help let's create scientifically literate members of society. Let's work together for all students!
