NSTA Opens Many Doors

My involvement with the NSTA started when I was appointed to the Middle School/Junior High Committee. I later ran for and was elected as MS/JH Director. Since we spent much of our time discussing whether activities and ideas were for middle school or junior high, I worked to change our name to the Middle Level Division. This brought the focus back to the teachers and the kids in grades 5 through 9.
Following my term, the new ML Director, Joan Hall, appointed me to chair a committee that lead to the founding of the NMLSTA. I served as its first President.
Through my involvement in the NSTA and NMLSTA, I got involved in a wide variety of projects and activities.
Working with the CEPUP Program through the Lawrence Hall of Science, got me to Anchorage, AK to do a teacher inservice. This ultimately lead to the beginning of the Alaska Great Lakes Project. This Project has enabled me to take nearly 700 students to Alaska over the past 18 years.
The Project helped me be awarded the Presidential Award in Science, and Michigan State University's Outstanding Alumnus Awards.
The NSTA presented me with the Distinguished Teaching Award and a special Ohaus Award.
I have also served on the boards of the Michigan Science Teachers Association and the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators.
My involvement began with NSTA and has made me a much better teacher.