Supporting Excellent Science Teaching for Georgia

Hello! I am Stephanie Westhafer, a first-grade teacher at West Jackson Elementary School in Jackson County. I am eager and excited to serve as the GSTA Elementary Representative and look forward to working with educators to enhance and expand science education in elementary.

I have a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and a Master of Arts in elementary education, as well as a Doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University. I was privileged to serve as the GSTA Elementary Teacher of the Year (23-24), to be recognized as a GYSTC STEM Scholar (2022), and to be awarded the 2024 NSTA Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary Educators. I also work with the Georgia Department of Education as a lesson plan developer and currently serve as the GaDOE K-2 Virtual Science Specialist.  

I am an avid researcher and advocate for literacy and science, serving as a writer, panelist, and presenter for local, state, and national conferences. As a Gubernatorial appointee to the Georgia Council on Literacy, I advocate for knowledge-building through authentic integration experiences.

I look forward to meeting and working with each of you. Please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions!