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2024 Program


2024 Annual Conference

October 14, 2024

NIU Naperville Campus

Help make the conference a success by presenting a session. Click here to submit a proposal

Click here to register as an exhibitor

Click here to register for the conference

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Our students’ future depends on their being prepared to analyze and interpret data in many forms to make informed, rational decisions. The focus of this year’s conference spotlights how to provide learning opportunities that allow students to define and answer questions that allow them to construct and apply valid scientific knowledge to all situations. Sessions will delve into aspects of one or more of the conference’s three threads.

Thread 1: Planning Purposefully

    • How can we design embedded three-dimensional assessments to support the phenomena we use?  
      • Workshops will explore the decision we need to make related to choosing phenomena to how to connect disciplinary core ideas, cross cutting concepts and science and engineering practices to designing embedded assessments.

Thread 2: Making Methods Meaningful

    • What do we do so that well-designed lesson plans actually work in the classroom?
      • Workshops will explore the realities of implementing quality science pedagogy.

Thread 3: Situating Science in the Classroom 

    • How can we use science as the context to engage students with other disciplines (e.g., ELA, mathematics, computer science, agriculture)? 
      • Workshops will explore integrating other disciplinary standards when teaching science.

Schedule

Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:00 - 9:00

Sessions:   - 9:00 - 12:00

Lunch (provided): 12:00 - 1:30

Sessions: 1:30 - 3:30

Exhibits open 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

HOTEL INFORMATION

There are numerous hotels within 2-5 miles of the conference site. Search the Wheaton or Naperville areas for list including a range of prices and amenities.


Address Conference Exhibit Questions and Questions related to Workshop Proposals to:

Ken Weter  <assistantexecutivedirector@ilscience.org>

Phone: 309-660-9902

Address Questions related to the Registration Process or Fiscal Arrangements to:

Bob Wolffe  <finance@ilscience.org>

Phone: 309-472-3118

        


ISTA NEWSLETTERS

                                                                                                                             Fall 2024

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Fall 2023


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ISTA Regions & Regional Directors

The Illinois Science Teaching Association Regional Directors represent the seven educational regions of Illinois.   The regions are a grouping of Illinois counties.   ISTA members working within each region elect two (2) Regional Directors.  ISTA Regional Directors serve staggered two-year terms to ensure continuity.  

Region 1:


Region 2:


Region 3:


Region 4:


Region 5:


Region 6:


Region 7:




Regional Directors:

Patricia Boguslaw, 2022 - 2023

region1a@ilscience.org


Jeff Grant, 2023-2024

region1b@ilscience.org


Region:

DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Suburban Cook, Will  




Regional Directors:

Maggie Moore, 2022 - 2023

region2a@ilscience.org


Aubrey Mikos, 2023-2024

region2b@ilscience.org

Region:

Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Henry, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago



Regional Directors:

Sebastian Szyjka, 2022 - 2023 

region3a@ilscience.org


Vacant, 2023 - 2024

region3b@ilscience.org

Region:

Adams, Brown, Cass, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Menard, Morgan, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Tazewell, Warren,  Woodford



Regional Directors:

Rebecca Wattleworth, 2022 - 2023

region4a@ilscience.org


Deanna Keeney, 2023 - 2024

region4b@ilscience.org


Region:

Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, Vermillion



Regional Directors:

Angela Box, 2022 - 2023 

region5a@ilscience.org


Brandy Hildebrand, 2023 - 2024

region5b@ilscience.org


Region:

Calhoun, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair



Regional Directors:

Alyssa Weisenstein, 2022 - 2023 

region6a@ilscience.org


Amy Telford, 2023 - 2024

region6b@ilscience.org


Region:

Alexander, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson




Regional Directors:

Misty Richmond, 2022 - 2023

region7a@ilscience.org


Jennifer Eastman, 2023-2024

region7b@ilscience.org


Region:

City of Chicago

ISTA Staff

The Illinois Science Teaching Association has three (3) part-time staff members

Executive Director: Bridina Lemmer, Ph.D.

ExecutiveDirector@ilscience.org


Assistant Executive Director: Ken Wester, Ed.S.

AssistantExecutiveDirector@ilscience.org


Finance Director: Bob Wolffe, Ed.D.

Finance@ilscience.org



Meet the ISTA Board of Directors and Staff


Governance and Guidance Documents

The Illinois Science Teaching Association (ISTA) promotes excellence in science teaching and learning throughout Illinois. 

ISTA connects educators, supervisors, pre-service teachers, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, informal education institutions, and others involved in science education through a professional association committed to science teaching and learning. As the state chapter of the National Science Teaching Association, ISTA promotes excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all students of Illinois.  As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, ISTA is managed primarily by dedicated volunteers and supported by members and donors.  

ISTA Governance Structure

The Illinois Science Teaching Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of five (5) Executive Officers and fourteen (14) Regional Directors.  The ISTA Board of Directors are elected by ISTA members.  The Board of Directors sets policy and makes decisions on behalf of the membership by providing general oversight regarding the affairs of the ISTA, its committees, affiliates and publications; determining its policies or changes therein; actively pursuing ISTA goals and objectives; and monitoring financial affairs. 

ISTA Executive Officers

The Illinois Science Teaching Association Executive Officers perform specific duties and serve as chairpersons on ISTA Standing Committees.  The President chain shall be a six-year commitment and shall automatically progress based on the following terms: President-Elect (2 years), President (2 years) and Immediate Past President (2 years), each with a two-year term limit.  The Vice President and Secretary serve a two-year term as well. 

President: Nicole Vick

President@ilscience.org


President-Elect: 

PresidentElect@ilscience.org


Past President: Kristin Rademaker

PastPresident@ilscience.org


Vice President: Heather Galbreath

VicePresident@ilscience.org


Secretary: Chris Embry Mohr

Secretary@ilscience.org



About us

We are a membership-based organization dedicated to promoting excellence in science teaching and learning throughout Illinois.   As the state chapter of the NSTA, the Illinois Science Teaching Association (ISTA) serves as a local resource for science educators in Illinois.

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Join the professional network of educators influencing science education in Illinois.  

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