Supporting Excellent Science Teaching for Georgia


What's happening with GSTA?

Professional learning! Advocacy! NSTA National Conference! Read below to get all the details.

Be a VIP at NSTA Atlanta!
Special Registration and Sessions for Georgia Teachers


Join us in Atlanta for four days of energizing moments, engaging sessions, inspiring presenters, and community building across disciplines. From relevant session topics to unique session formats, to immersive pre-conference workshops, to informative share-a-thons and morning coffee chats, to exciting social activities and networking events, NSTA Atlanta23 is sure to bring you the best new thinking coupled with time-tested teaching approaches in a fun, one-of-a-kind, collaborative learning environment! GSTA will sponsor a special Georgia-specific strand of sessions full of ideas and resources that you can take back directly to your classroom. Even better, all GSTA members can register at the NSTA member rate! Join GSTA here and then register for the NSTA conference here. In order to receive the member registration rate, you'll need your GSTA member ID number. You can find this by logging in to the GSTA site and viewing your profile. If you need help with that, you can watch this short video tutorial.

Awards & Grants Winners Announced

Congratulations to these outstanding educators (and student) for their accomplishments or innovative ideas in support of science education in Georgia!

  • Stephanie Westhafer, GSTA Elementary Teacher of the Year, West Jackson Elementary School, Jackson County School System
  • Ann-Margaret Somers, GSTA Middle School Teacher of the Year, Mill Creek Middle School, Cherokee County School District
  • Alec Johnson, GSTA High School Teacher of the Year, Morgan County High School, Morgan County Charter School System
  • Ansley Wallace, GSTA Middle School Teacher of Promise, Youth Middle School, Walton County School District
  • David Kramer, GSTA High School Teacher of Promise, Morgan County High School, Morgan County Charter School System
  • Christy Brown, GSTA Administrator of the Year, South Effingham Middle School, Effingham County Schools
  • Lesee Strickland, GSTA Project Grant, Clinch County High School, Clinch County School System
  • Lindsay Elkins, GSTA Project Grant, Kemp Elementary School, Cobb County School District
  • Chloe Westhafer, GSTA Project Grant, West Jackson Middle School, Jackson County Schools
  • Ann Catherine Cox, GSTA Project Grant, Carrollton Elementary School, Carrollton City Schools
  • Presley Hill, GSTA Student Scholarship, Morgan County High School, Morgan County Charter School System

Upcoming events

  • No upcoming events

GSTA Statement on The Role of Science Learning in Supporting Literacy Development


As part of our ongoing efforts to advocate for the critical role that science can play in supporting literacy learning, the GSTA board has released this statement on The Role of Science Learning in Supporting Literacy Development. The statement will be submitted as testimony to Georgia House Study Committee on Literacy Instruction. You can learn more about the committee through our partner organization, Science For Georgia, here.

Along with preparing this statement, we hosted a virtual PL series focused on the role that science can play in supporting literacy across grades K-12. These sessions featured teachers, researchers, science education leaders, and policy advocates to share their experiences, expertise, and inspiration. Members can access recordings and other resources from the sessions at this link.

GSTA Election Results


Welcome GSTA's new voices for science education in Georgia!

The GSTA Board of Directors would like to welcome new board members who will begin their role in April in the following positions:

  • President-Elect: Dr. Tamieka Grizzle
  • Vice President: Kristina Istre
  • Middle School Representative: Steven King
  • College Representative: Jaclyn Murray
  • District 1 Director: Lisa Benson
  • District 3 Director: Tiffany Jones
  • District 5 Director: Ann Catherine Cox
  • District 7 Director: Dr. Tonya Woolfolk
  • District 9 Director: Donita Legoas
  • District 11 Director: Dr. Patti Howell

New DOE Resources

Have you seen the new resources from GaDOE? See below for the K-12 Teacher Notes, Literacy Plans, Multimodality Stations, Self-Evaluation Checklists, and Phenomenon Tasks!


2022-23 GSTA Board of Directors


  • Executive Director: Justin Harvey
  • President: Dr. Nicole Page
  • President Elect: Melissa Niemi
  • Vice President: 
  • Secretary: Dr. Jessica VanValkenburgh
  • Exec. Treasurer/Secretary: Nancy Brim
  • Elementary School Rep.: Marquita Jackson
  • Middle School Rep.: Kristina Istre
  • High School Rep.: Jordan Tidrick
  • College Rep.: Dr. Kania Greer
  • Supervisors Rep.: Dr. Jeremy Peacock
  • District 1: Dr. Robert Bice
  • District 2: Jane Reed
  • District 3: Kelly Bodner
  • District 4: Jessica Pauldo
  • District 5: Dr. Sheila Barnes
  • District 6: Mandy Fulton
  • District 7: Heather Cowart
  • District 8: Dr. Michelle Thompson
  • District 9: Donita Legoas
  • District 10: Teresa Massey
  • District 11: Dr. Patti Howell
  • District 12: Kathryn Mullen

GSTA Professional Resources

Besides our world famous GSTA Phenomena Bank, GSTA supports science teachers across the state by curating professional resources.

GSTA is committed to supporting excellence in science teaching for the students of Georgia. GSTA works to CONNECT, INFORM, SUPPORT, and ADVOCATE for science teachers in Georgia. We also seek to PARTNER with like-minded formal and informal science education organizations to further GSTA’s mission and goals.

Membership

CONNECT Georgia science teachers to vibrant local and statewide professional networks that enhance their classroom practice and the value of their membership. 

Professional Learning

INFORM GSTA members through a variety of professional learning opportunities that enhance access to current, research-based practices for teachers at all levels, for all disciplines, and in all settings across Georgia. 

Resources

SUPPORT GSTA members through professional resources that help teachers improve their practice, the academic lives of their students, and their school communities.

Advocacy

ADVOCATE for excellent science education in Georgia on behalf of teachers and students and encourage our members to raise their own voices in support of excellent science education for all students in our state. 

Outreach

PARTNER with informal science education stakeholders to facilitate science literacy opportunities for learners of all ages in real-world communities.


Support the Georgia Science Teachers Education Foundation (GSTEF).  All monies go towards awards, scholarships, and mini-grants for teachers and students!

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