October 23, 2025

Pre-Conference

October 24, 2025

State Conference

 NEW!       NEW!      NEW!      NEW!      NEW!

This year Friday's registration fee includes a free membership for inservice teachers. If you are currently a member, your renewal date will be revised by one year. If you are not an active member - congratulations, now you will be apart of ISTA joining others across the state who want the best in science education for all of Illinois youth.

          ALSO NEW!     ALSO NEW!    ALSO NEW!       

This year we are offering a full day of pre conference sessions. all  Thanks to grant support, this full day has a fee of only $25. Registrations are limited to 110 participants, so don't miss this opportunity. You may register for the pre conference only or register for both Thursday and Friday and get a $10 discount off the Friday rate! Both days for only $150. This includes breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks for two days of workshops and you free ISTA membership/renewal.

PRE-CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

The Thursday Pre-conference is a day of workshops exploring grades 9-12 agricultural biology immersion curriculum designed for use in either biology or agricultural courses. Learn about two quality storylines: one related to producing the perfect apple and the other investigating ways to solve food challenges for our changing world through the lens of popcorn.

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

The overarching goal of this year’s conference is to take a careful look at various aspects of sustaining our students’ interest in learning science. By encouraging today’s youth interest in science, our students will be prepared to participate as informed citizens and a sufficient number of students will choose to enter STEM fields.

Thread One: Sustaining Student Engagement 

• When students engage as scientists, engineers and other STEM fields in the classroom, they have authentic, relevant opportunities to actively make sense of the world and beyond (what we call sensemaking) learning becomes engaging, accessible, and important. The four pillars of sensemaking are experiencing phenomena, using science and engineering practices, leveraging student ideas, and science ideas (grade-appropriate disciplinary core ideas). In this strand, we invite educators to share how they have integrated the pillar(s) of sensemaking into their practice. Particular emphasis will be placed on sessions that provide strategies for lesson design or assessment using at least one of the pillars in combination with student work, student video, or specific examples of the strategy in the classroom and its impacts on student learning.

Thread Two: Sustaining Science/STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Careers

• This strand focuses on the continuous growth, development, and sustainability of careers in STEM, as well as CTE. It explores innovative strategies, best practices, and real-world applications that support long-term success in these fields. Topics include fostering career pathways, enhancing workforce development, integrating cutting-edge technology and industry trends into curricula, and ensuring equitable access to opportunities for all students. Additionally, the strand highlights efforts to promote lifelong learning, and bridge the gap between education and industry needs. Through this strand, attendees will gain actionable insights and resources to help sustain and advance careers in STEM and CTE, contributing to the future of these critical fields.

Thread Three: Sustaining Quality Assessment

• This strand  focuses on improving science and STEM classroom teaching and learning through the use of high-quality assessments. These sessions will provide opportunities to deepen the educator’s knowledge base making possible improved instructional practices. Assessment materials used as the context or examples will be Open Educational Resources (OER) or open to all and free of charge.

Schedule Each Day

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

Sessions:   - 9:00 - 12:00

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

Sessions: 1:30 - 3:30

Free Raffle: 3:30 - 4:00   (FRIDAY ONLY)

Exhibits Open 8:30 am - 2:00 pm  (FRIDAY ONLY)

Benefits

• Professional Development Hours Provided Through ISTA
• Special Extended Learning Opportunities in Small Groups
• Numerous sessions covering a broad array of current topics
• Flea Market: This year the Flea Market is returning. This is a chance to gather free materials and supplies for your classrooms and labs and/or to clean out some materials and supplies you no longer need that others would love to have. 

• District Group Discount Rate and Administrator's Discount- see information below
• Science education vendors featured in the exhibit spaces on Friday.
• Raffle at the end of conference on Friday with free prizes for those in attendance on Friday.
• Opportunities to network with colleagues and meet new people
• Continental Breakfast, Buffet Lunch and Afternoon Snacks provided 

Special rate - only $60 for preservice teachers which includes ISTA membership

(Early Bird Pricing Ends October 9th)

CLICK the "REGISTER" button to the left now

Once you have completed the registration form, you will be able to either pay immediately at our secure site with a credit card or at a later date via check/PO from you or your employer. The confirmation of registration you receive via email serves as either your receipt or bill. Check out the group discount program below before registering.

Registrations canceled after September 21st will incur a $50 fee regardless of whether payment has been received.

Special District Group Discount 

With the hope of providing more teachers the opportunity to attend our joint conference, ISTA is offering a  discount program for groups attending on Friday. If your district registers 5 or more teachers for the conference on Friday, the fee will be reduced by $10 dollars per in-person registrant. To take advantage of this special savings contact Bob Wolffe at finance@ilscience.org or 309-472-3118. He will send you the registration form to be used for groups. The same form will be used for all registrants regardless of discipline. DO NOT register on-line. Invoices provided upon request.

If your school or school district is paying for 4 or less people to attend, each person must be register individually on-line and a receipt or bill will be sent via email as each registration is completed. A single payment can then be sent for the entire group and each invoice will be recorded as paid upon receipt of payment.

Check Payable to: ISTA

Mail Payments to: Bob Wolffe, ISTA Finance Director

230 East Green Acres Ct.

East Peoria, IL 61611

Administrator Special Promotion

We believe it is important to promote the attendance of administrators at the conference. We know, with their support, teachers are better positioned to implement best practices. An administrator attending with a paid teacher registrant may come to the conference for only $50.   

EXHIBITS

On Friday, come talk with many commercial and non-commercial exhibitors.  There displays will be open from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. 

HOTEL INFORMATION

Please check back soon for a discounted hotel room block for ISTA Conference participants! Rooms in the block will be for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights.

There are also 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.

COMPLETE PROGRAM

Closer to the date of the conference the program will be available online. You will be notified when this occurs.

Chicago Public Schools Update

ISTA should have a CPU vendor number very soon. It will be posted ASAP.

Contact Bob Wolffe at finance@ilscience.org for information needed to join us in 2025.

Media Permission

By registering for this event I grant the Illinois Science Teachers Association (ISTA) the right to take photographs, videos, and/or other recordings of me at this event. I understand such media can be used for any lawful purpose, which may include publicity, marketing, illustration, advertising and Web content related to the work and responsibilities of ISTA. Published information may include names, school, city/state, and other identifying information. 

If I do not wish to allow for above I will notify ISTA via email.

 Cancellations

Registrations canceled after October 9th will incur a $50 fee regardless of whether payment has been received since food will have been ordered for you..