Speakers

Kimberley Astle is the Associate Director of Elementary Science and Integration at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State.  She serves on the Board of Directors for NSTA as the Division Director of Professional Learning in Science Education, on the Board of Directors for NSELA, and co-chairs the CSSS Ad Hoc Committee on Supporting Elementary Science. 

Shannon Wachowski is a Science Content Specialist at EdReports. Previously, Shannon served as the Science Consultant for the Wyoming Department of Education. As an educator, Shannon has taught a variety of science classes in rural high school settings as well as facilitated professional development for teachers, from pre-service to veteran. 

Daniel is the Associate Director at The Learning Design Group of the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

Tiffany is a Research Scientist at the University of Washington's Institute for Science and Math Education and formerly served as the Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and as the Director of Science Education there. She was also president of CSSS from 2017-2019.

Casandra has been a state science supervisor since August 2021. She is also a doctoral candidate in STEM Education at Boston College. Casandra has worked as a middle school science teacher, worked with pre-service teachers, and supported the development of OpenSciEd professional learning. 

Cari joined NCSE in 2021 after teaching for nine years. She is passionate about inclusive science curricula. As part of the Supporting Teachers team, Cari designs curricula aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards that provide teachers with the tools to help students overcome misconceptions about climate change and evolution.

Lin joined NCSE in 2019 after teaching biology in Kansas for 18 years. As director of the NCSE Supporting Teachers team, Lin has provided a solid science foundation for students nationwide and helped teachers navigate the often turbulent waters of overcoming misconceptions in biology and climate science. 

Heidi Schweingruber, Ph.D., is the director of the Board on Science Education at the National Academies. She oversees a portfolio of work that includes K-12, informal and post-secondary science education. She is a nationally recognized leader in leveraging research findings to catalyze improvements in science education. 

Amy Stephens is the Associate Director of the Board on Science Education at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine 

Brian began teaching science in 2002. He taught biology, chemistry, and/or physics in rural and suburban Tennessee high schools before leaving the classroom in 2017 to serve as the Coordinator for Science for the Tennessee Department of Education. Brian co-chairs the CSSS Technology and Communications Committee.

Erica Baker joined the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) as the Science Program Consultant in May 2022. She serves as a science expert for the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science and develops resources to support schools and districts in highly effective science teaching and learning. Prior to joining KDE, Mrs. Baker taught middle school science for 10 years.

Jody Bintz serves as Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships and Director, Educator Learning for BSCS Science Learning. She co-directs the NEXUS Academy for Science Curriculum Leadership in partnership with WestEd and leads BSCS’s Science Teachers Learning from Lesson Analysis (STeLLA) teacher professional learning and leadership development programs.

Nancy Hopkins-Evans serves as Associate Director for Program Impact and Acting Director for Equitable Impact for BSCS Science Learning.