EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STEM TEACHER LEADERSHIP
Summary of a Convocation
Steve Olson and Jay Labov, Rapporteurs
Planning Committee on Exploring Opportunities for
STEM Teacher Leadership
Teacher Advisory Council
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
This project was supported by the National Science Foundation (Award# DRL-1406780). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.
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Suggested citation: National Research Council. (2014). Exploring Opportunities for STEM Teacher Leadership: Summary of a Convocation. S. Olson and J. Labov, Rapporteurs. Planning Committee on Exploring Opportunities for STEM Teacher Leadership: Summary of a Convocation, Teacher Advisory Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
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PLANNING COMMITTEE ON EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEM TEACHER LEADERSHIP
MIKE TOWN (Chair), Tesla STEM High School, Redmond, WA
JANET ENGLISH, El Toro High School, Lake Forest, CA
CINDY HASSELBRING, Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore
TOBY HORN, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC
SUSANNA LOEB, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
STEVE ROBINSON, Democracy Prep Charter High School, New York
JAY LABOV, Senior Advisor for Education and Communication
MARY ANN KASPER, Senior Project Assistant
MATTHEW LAMMERS, Program Coordinator
TEACHER ADVISORY COUNCIL
STEVEN L. LONG (Chair), Rogers High School, Rogers, AR
JULIANA JONES (Vice Chair), Longfellow Middle School, Berkeley, CA
NANCY ARROYO, Riverside High School, El Paso, TX
CHARLENE DINDO, Pelican’s Nest Science Lab, Fairhope, AL
KENNETH HUFF, Mill Middle School, Williamsville, NY
MARY MARGUERITE (MARGO) MURPHY, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME
JENNIFER SINSEL, Bostic Elementary School, Wichita, KS
SHEIKISHA THOMAS, Jordan High School, Durham, NC
BRUCE ALBERTS (Ex Officio), University of California, San Francisco
JAY LABOV, Senior Advisor for Education and Communication and Staff Director
MARY ANN KASPER, Senior Program Assistant
MATTHEW LAMMERS, Program Coordinator
ELIZABETH CARVELLAS, Teacher Leader
Acknowledgments
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Bill Badders, Office of President, National Science Teachers Association, and science teacher, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Sophia Gershman, teacher, Watchung Hills Regional High School, New Jersey; Kenneth Huff, science teacher, Williamsville Central School District, Williamsville, New York; Ken Krehbiel, Office of Associate Executive Director for Communications, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Reston, Virginia; Zovig Minassian, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Office of Science Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, U.S. Department of Energy; and Terri M. Taylor, Office of Assistant Director, K-12 Education, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they did not see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Ford Morishita, science specialist at the Science and Mathematics Education
Resource Center in Vancouver, Washington. Appointed by NRC’s Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authors and the institution.
Special thanks and deep appreciation are extended to Janice Earle in the National Science Foundation’s Division on Research and Learning (Directorate on Education and Human Resources) for her many years of support and encouragement of work to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at NRC and throughout the education system. Her commitment to exploring the evidence base for improving teaching and learning in STEM and her sheer hard work in helping to move forward effective research methods and practices are recognized and greatly appreciated by NRC and colleagues throughout the STEM education community.
Margo Murphy, Chair (as of July 1, 2014)
Jay Labov, Staff Director
Teacher Advisory Council
Contents
1 Introduction and Themes of the Convocation
Suggestions from Breakout Groups
2 What STEM Teacher Leaders Can Contribute to Education Policy and Decision Making
The Benefits of Teacher Leadership
Chemistry Teachers at the American Chemical Society
Avenues of Teacher Involvement
Teacherpreneurs for the 21st Century
Countering Increased Expenditures
3 Models for Engaging Teachers’ Voices
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowships
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowships
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The National Academies Teacher Advisory Council
The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program
Other Leadership Opportunities
4 Professional Development for STEM Teacher Leaders
Solving the Puzzles of Professional Development
Putting Research Results to Use
5 Generating Continuous Improvement Cycles Through Research and Development
The Role of Professional Development
The Promise of STEM Teacher Leadership
C Biographical Sketches of Presenters, Panelists, Moderators, and Planning Committee Members
