Being a part of ASTA's Teacher Leadership Program even for just a year has made a tremendous impact in my teaching and in my classroom. I had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other passionate teachers, and learn new skills and strategies from highly-experienced and professional science educators. My experience with ASTA is unique because the leadership program has truly made me evaluate my work and how it impacts my students daily, and pushed me to be more reflective in my teaching.
When I became a middle school science teacher at a small rural school I had no one to collaborate with (being the only science teacher on campus). I attended an ASTA conference and gained so much knowledge and made connections with other teachers that have lasted for years. They have become my colleagues and my students benefit GREATLY from the best science teaching practices that I learn from ASTA workshops, conferences, symposiums, webinars, etc. There are so many high quality learning opportunities through ASTA! In addition to continuing to teach, I now also give back to the Arizona science teaching community by participating in ASTA as an Ambassador for leading professional development workshops.
ASTA is amazing! They support teachers with leadership, learning, and self-care for teacher retention. They keep us updated on the most current information for our state to ensure our students are getting the best education possible. They support the classrooms with materials, lessons, and numerous professional developments. They make the learning accessible for our busy schedules and they are always engaging. ASTA is one of the best resources a science teacher could have.
ASTA does an amazing job to make sure that all Arizona teachers have the resources and information needed to teach quality science lessons to their students.
This is the most dedicated group of volunteers I have ever worked with! Teachers from across our state find ways to be involved and to promote effective science education. It is exciting to be helping teachers understand and implement our new state Science standards.
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Arizona Science Teachers Association is a wonderful group of people who are dedicated to supporting teachers involved in educating all students about Science! They work to support teachers across the state by providing high-quality professional development sessions and up-to-date information about resources that support effective Science instruction. ASTA is a voice for robust and accurate Science standards in Arizona. I am proud to be associated with such an involved and passionate group!
The Arizona Science Teachers Associtation is dedicated to providing professional development to teachers at all grade levels. They provide servioces to elementary teachers, many of whom teach science as part of the curriculum but do not have a background in science. they help teachers tobe able to understand the new science standards and how to appl;y the standards in the classroom. they work closely with preservice teachers and with novice teachers to help them delivery quality science education.
They also advocate for science education across the state for large urban schools to smaller rural schools. The board is made up of teachers from throughout Arizona, every region in the state is represented.
They also provide a variety of resources that are available to their members on line to help them to stay abreast of recent developments in science and science education, and provide strategies for sharing this information with students in the classroom.
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I have been associated with the Arizona Science Techers Association(ASTA) for the last 19 years as an elementary and middle school teacher and since 2004 as a member of the board representing Region 8 which includes Pinal County, Az. This organization provides numerous invaluable opportunities for learning for teachers, administrators, parents, and those who are interested in science education. We have a annual conference which draws highly qualified science educators to Arizona to share their knowledge with us. There are also 40 or 50 exhibitors who not only bring the latest in technology and equipment for the science classroom, but also introduce their products and provide training on how to use them. The conference is also an opportunity for "science" people from educators at all levels, members of industry and concerned members of the public to get together and learn from each other.
ASTA also provides numerous other opportunities for professional development and mentoring. Membership is ridiculously inexpensive at $20 a year and this gives you access to the members section of the ASTA website where there are many answers to questions and concerns that teachers may have regarding teaching science in a way that is cutting edge and makes the information available to all students regardless of their learning style.
The staff and members of the board are always willing to get together with teachers and help out in anyway that they can.
ASTA has been a great source of inspiration, an invaluable resource for professional growth opportunities and powerful professional connection for me. I believe that ASTA is a must for any science educator who intends to be leader in their school community or one who needs to stay current with the latest resources and news in education. I have personally grown in my leadership skills and involvement in Science education in AZ since joining ASTA.
Thank you ASTA!
As a participant in the peer mentoring program provided by ASTA last year, I was able to connect with science educators around the state. I enjoyed the professional collaboration and support.
I had just graduated from the University if Arizona and had my first teaching position at Snowflake High School. Despite my wonderful educational experience at the UofA, I still felt overwhelmed as a new teacher. I had just started a Masters Degree program at NAU, which allowed me to do the program during the summers. It was at NAU where I first learned about ASTA and was encouraged to become a member. I elected to become a Lifetime member because I felt I would be in the teaching profession for a long time. I have been an ASTA member for 30 years and have gained so much more than I have given. The resources are phenomenal for beginning and experienced teachers. It is a blessing to attend the annual conference and learn from fellow teachers.
Thank you ASTA for helping me to become the educator I am today.
Years ago, after moving to Arizona, I was invited to a workshop sponsored by the ASTA. It was the defining moment in my teaching career in Arizona. The ASTA offers incredible workshops, annual conferences, and opportunities for educators across Arizona. Today I am a Lead Ambassador for a collaboration between the ASTA and the Arizona Department of Ed, creating and facilitating workshops for others to participate in, hoping to create the same experience that I had years ago. The ASTA and its Board far exceeds expectations when offering quality workshops to the educators of Arizona.
The ASTA is an incredible group of like-minded people who inspire and encourage me to be a better educator. With the ASTA, I truly found my niche in Arizona. I am proud to be a member of the Arizona Science Teachers Association.
Arizona Science Teachers Association (ASTA) inspires science teachers across our state! ASTA strives to provide teachers with quality professional development to enhance student engagement. I have been to a few conferences and workshops that ASTA has provided and walked away with greater content knowledge and a variety of resources that I can use right away in my classroom. ASTA's bi-monthly newsletter that members receive is loaded with valuable information on professional development for teachers, grants, science news and student opportunities across the state. Through the Arizona Science Teachers Association, I have been able to connect with other science teachers across the state. I highly recommend the Arizona Science Teachers Association to all Arizona science teachers, pre-service teachers, science professionals and enthusiasts.
ASTA is one of the most relevant organizations I've been part of. Our board constantly strives to serve not only our Science teachers; but through them the students of Arizona.
The Arizona Science Teacher's Association cares about teachers and helping them in anyway they can. ASTA wants to improve science education across the state for all students by delivering top notch professional development and resources to teachers. They are quick to respond to questions and offer many ways to receive professional development from in-person to online webinars.
The Arizona Science Teachers Association supports classroom teachers with resources, professional development, leadership opportunities, and mentoring. The members are leaders in their field and support teachers locally and at the state level. This is a great organization that goes to great lengths to be sure Arizona's students receive engaging instruction.
The Arizona Science Teachers Association is an organization that supports teachers from across the state in preparing their students to be successful in STEM. This is done through the teacher leadership program, workshops and symposiums, and conferences.
Through the Arizona Science Teachers Association, teachers can feel empowered and supported by STEM professionals and STEM teachers to inspire and engage their students. There are many resources for teachers to engage with and learn from regarding best and current practices to use in their classrooms.
In addition, the Arizona Science Teachers Association also advocates for high quality STEM programs for all students. This is evident in their practices and passion for STEM education in Arizona.
The Arizona Science Teachers Association, under the leadership of executive director Sara Torres and a very hard-working volunteer board of science educators, provides resources to science teachers throughout Arizona. In addition to producing an annual conference, the organization provides regular digital bulletins, webinars, mentorships, professional development and advocacy for quality science education.
How ASTA Changed my Life
by
Baldwin G Gutierrez
Region II (Mohave County) Director
It never occurred even in my wildest imagination that I will be a part of something extraordinarily significant as Arizona Science Teachers Association (ASTA). Coming from the rural Mohave Valley, where the Golden State of California and the Silver state of Nevada are way closer than Arizona’s capital itself, I was tickled by the hands of curiosity to attend ASTA’s Annual Conference. I, however, understood that considering the driving distance of 235 miles to the venue, a financially challenged teacher as me would need monetary support, and coming from a Title I district, asking for professional development money is not always easy. That is why; acquiring sponsorship that time from a private company was an enormous blessing.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) was where everything started. I gazed at the “purpleness” of the place as I enjoyed the free wifi that stretches all throughout the campus. While attending the breakout-session that addressed STEM and Innovative Teaching Pedagogy was rewarding enough, looking at the exhibits was for me, extra-satisfying. It was during my journey along the exhibit hall that I met Arizona Science Olympiad.
I love competitions. I adore the drama associated with winning and losing and the somewhat painful or gratifying realization of someone’s strengths and weaknesses. Let me tell you that upon hearing some promising information about the Olympiad, I felt the sudden urge to zoom away back to my beloved valley ready to mobilize my first MVJH science Olympiad team. My mind was in the state of elation as I imagine the involvement of my students to the academic battle of scientific excellence, until I remember that I still have DAY 2 of the conference to attend to. It seemed like I already captured everything that I wanted to know just on that first day alone. The second day dawned and as expected, knowledge after knowledge cascaded. STEM here. STEM there. STEM everywhere!
I started my week after the conference pumped up as I dwell in the possibility of gates being opened for my team as we represent our district to the Arizona Science Olympiad. I was envisioning gates lavished with STEM information, inter-school camaraderie, wide awakenings to scientific knowledge, and newer perspectives. Allow me to emphasize to you, however, that introducing the Olympiad to my students required an immense amount of energy from my part, constantly reminding them that we signed up for a competition, not planned a pleasure trip. We aim for the absolute best and live up to an elevated standard. I felt that many of my students were not quite thrilled about the required degree of rigor to win, but it was clear that they were jubilant to the idea of travelling away from the valley. We conditioned ourselves to strenuous study time and careful planning to be able to raise the amount of money to be able to travel at least 4 hours on the bus.
For the two years that we represented our school, we were given the highly-coveted Spirit Award owing to the angelic behavior of my Olympians. I witnessed academic growth and maturity among my Olympians. I thanked the AZ Science Olympiad for the honor. I thanked ASTA for opening the threshold.
Due to my relentless aim (I guess) to better my teaching profession, back to back with the consistent demonstration of the cliche “going above and beyond” my calling as a teacher, ASTA recognized me as their 2014 Middle School Science Teacher of the Year. The association had no idea that they were remarkably instrumental to how I achieved this accolade.
Being part of the assembly of ASTA members all over Arizona has become embedded to my annual professional development plan. In fact, it has been my birthday gift to myself. It did not sound appealing nor reasonable to several of my friends but for me, it is way far more rewarding than upgrading my phone or buying a new pair of kicks. I am grateful that my district contributed to ease me up with some of my travel expenses.
And then came STANFORD. ASTA emailed its members a free PD opportunity on “Reading to Learn in Science” that will be hosted by Stanford University via NovoEd. My mouth involuntarily opened in excitement as I peruse the invitation for a learning experience. I remembered my academic principal sharing with us our school’s plan on emphasizing literacy in all of our classes. What else could I ask for?! This is relevant! It is from Stanford University! And above all, it is FREE!!!
I embraced every bit of information set by the PD, hungry to discover strategies and comply to the requirement of the class with a towering degree of pride. I felt wealthier and generous to share the lessons, which I did. During the County-wide professional development day, a certain percentage that I acquired from “Reading to Learn” was contributed with other educators. I thanked Stanford University. I thanked ASTA!
As I enjoy the perks of being an ASTA member, my ambitious spirit arouse from within me when I learned that our current Mohave County director would like to retire from her post: I aspired of becoming the next Regional Director of Mohave County. She voted for me. I guess she wants to give me the chance.
In my campaign essay, I wrote “For the past years, I strived for excellence in my field. I taught like a rock star and gave my best to better the skills of my students in science. Still, I feel that am still lacking service to other people. I would like to extend myself to the service of more teachers and my community by being a Regional Director.”
As I write this testimony, I feel like how Jesus broke the bread for his disciples, I want to break the blessing that I received from ASTA to our members. Not that I am Jesus. It will be an insult to him. But I guess I can inspire others, too. For the many pleasant things in the teaching world both past and present, I thanked the association! I thanked curiosity for the push. I thanked God for ASTA!
astaexecdir 10/12/2018
Thank you for sharing your story! ASTA strives for excellence as well. We want to be the association where science teachers in Arizona go to for resources and professional development.
Had awesome professional development opportunities and the chance to collaborate and get support from a variety of teachers in and out of my district.
astaexecdir 10/12/2018
Thank you! ASTA's mission is to inspire, engage and support science teachers. Your comments validate the work that ASTA does!
I am an elementary science and math specialist teacher. Two years ago I found ASTA and have loved having this group to help me gain information and resources for my classroom and school. I have presented at their annual conference, and am planning on attending my third this year. They have great people in the organization that are always willing to point teachers in there right direction when it comes to curriculum, resources, and information. I have also enjoyed working with them to give trainings to teachers, and look forward to another year of working with this fantasist organization.
astaexecdir 10/12/2018
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with teachers across Arizona at our conference. You are making a positive difference!
ASTA is one of the best organizations in the education field in Arizona! They diligently work hard to inspire, motivate and provide high-quality science education professional development opportunities or all science educators. As a current middle school science teacher, and Science/STEM Education Consultant, I have personally attended, engaged and presented at their Annual Conference for the past two years and always walk away with the most innovative and applicable resources. ASTA is the leader in science education in Arizona!
astaexecdir 10/12/2018
Thank you for sharing! With the ASTA conference around the corner, we hope to continue to inspire, engage, and support teachers like you.
Being a member of ASTA has been life-changing for me. As a former elementary classroom teacher ASTA was there to support me in my instruction of good science. ASTA gave me the resources and guidance I needed to be a better science teacher. ASTA also gave me the confidence to pursue my love of science education and I’m now a Professional Development Specialist for science and STEM education. I know I can always count on ASTA to network, learn, and grow in my science/STEM education journey!
astaexecdir 10/12/2018
Although ASTA may have helped you as a teacher, you are helping ASTA and educators across the state by providing your expertise. Thank you!