It is time to vote for officers for the Teacher Education Division of NAGT. The 2018 ballot for TED officers is for President, Vice President, Past President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Media Director. The voting begins on May 30 and ends on July 1, 2019.
Officer Candidate Elections
President
Laura Hollister is an A.P. Environmental Science & Living Earth Instructor, PHS Wildlink Club Advisor, Making Sense of Science i3 Grant Project Teacher Leader, and California Science Project Teacher Leader, Stanislaus County High Schools.
Professional Experience: Reviewer Vice President, National Association of Geoscience Teachers - Teacher Education Division.
Vice President
George Bartuska teaches at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy, an IB Magnet School in Lakeland, Florida. Within the Space Foundation's Teacher Liaison program, George engages in peer-to-peer instruction. Previously, he served as Academic Advisor to USAF Civil Air Patrol and taught adult Coast Guard Auxiliary members in mandated Coastal Marine Weather and Hurricane Preparedness courses. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served aboard the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy. Since then, George has emphasized meteorology, oceanography, and space sciences education. In his current position, George facilitated a Sea Perch Challenge Grant through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University for 7th & 8th grade students to build and operate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) underwater. He also obtained two years grant funding for High Altitude Balloon Launch from Motorola Corp. and the Polk Education Foundation, as well as a SPLASH Grant from the Southwest Water Management District to purchase an Aquifer Groundwater Model and other teaching instrumentation.
Education: Currently licensed to teach Earth-Space Science (grades 6-12), FL. Pursuing Doctor of Business Administration degree at Orlando University, Orlando, FL. M.Sc. Health Management, Orlando University, Orlando, FL. B.Sc. Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Professional Experience: Kathleen High School, Lakeland, FL - Taught AP Environmental Science, Marine Science, and Earth-Space Science; introduced Project Based Learning (PBL) into the classroom and SKYPE to interact with National Weather Service Meteorologist. Central Florida Aerospace Academy, Lakeland, FL - Charter faculty member and first-year teacher in inaugural launch. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Tampa, FL. American Society of Civil Engineers Educational Outreach.
Past President
Eric Pyle is a professor of geology at James Madison University, specializing in geoscience education and teacher preparation. He has published on science teacher preparation and professional development as well as instructional materials development and evaluation. He has served in the leadership of five NSF-funded projects, including grants for GK-12 Teaching Fellows, GeoEd, and the Robert C. Noyce program. He was a member of the Earth & Space Science (ESS) Design Team for A Framework for K-12 Science Education and was a primary reviewer for all drafts of the Next Generation Science Standards. He was also an author of the National Research Council's Preparing the Next Generation of Earth Scientists: An Examination of Federal Education and Training Programs. At JMU, he has served as the coordinator of science teacher preparation in the College of Science & Mathematics as well as a Co-Director of the Center for STEM Education and Outreach. He teaches coursework in Earth materials, contemporary Earth issues, and planetary geology, as well as joint courses in secondary teaching methods. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), heading the Preservice Teacher Preparation Division from 2014-2017. He is also a past president of the Eastern Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the West Virginia Science Teachers Association (WVSTA) and the Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST). He has received awards for Outstanding Teaching (West Virginia University), Gustav Ohaus Award for Innovations in Science Teaching, Outstanding Service (JMU College of Science & Mathematics), the JMU Provost's Award for Assessment, and the VAST Recognition in Science Education-College Level. He received a BS cum Laude in Earth science from UNC-Charlotte (1983), an MS in Geology from Emory University (1986), and a PhD in Science Education from the University of Georgia (1995).
Secretary-Treasurer
Peggy McNeal is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. Previously, Peggy was a middle school science teacher for fourteen years after serving as an officer in the United States Navy. Her research interests include identifying cognitive processes significant to practicing and learning meteorology and characterizing the motivations of educators who teach climate change.
Education: B.S. Oceanography, United States Naval Academy; M.S. Geosciences, Mississippi State University; Ph.D. Western Michigan University, Science Education: Geosciences.
Professional Experience: Evaluator and university liaison for intern teachers, Teaching, Learning and Education Studies (TLES), Western Michigan University; Instructor, Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Western Michigan University; PolarTREC Teacher, Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S.; Science and Math Teacher, Grades 6-8, Cajon Valley Union School District, CA
Professional Service: Reviewer, Polar Record, a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal covering all aspects of Arctic and Antarctic exploration and research; Reviewer, Science Scope, NSTA's peer-reviewed journal for middle level and junior high school science teachers.
Media Director
Suzanne Metlay Ph.D., is full-time faculty at Western Governors University, Teachers College, preparing pre-service and of-record teachers to become middle school and high school Earth science educators with subject matter expertise in geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Suzanne leads the Geosciences Education program, teaches graduate students as well as undergraduates, and assists students getting ready for their Praxis and state content exams nationwide. Prior to joining WGU, Suzanne was full-time astronomy faculty at Front Range Community College, Colorado; Operations Director at Secure World Foundation (private non-profit for space sustainability); Education Programs Manager at Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado at Boulder; and a member of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET). Current passions include annual talks at local astronomy clubs about Pluto and other dwarf planets, active engagement in professional organizations (NAGT, GSA, NSTA), and anything
Orphan Black or
Doctor Who.
Education: B.A., History & Science (Geology & Soviet Studies), Harvard University; Ph.D, Geology & Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh (PA).
Professional Experience: Western Governors University, Teachers College (2012-present; 2015 WGU Mentoring Contributions Award for peer collaboration and support); Front Range Community College (CO; 2010-2012); Secure World Foundation (CO; 2008-2011); University of Colorado at Boulder, Fiske Planetarium (2004-2008); plus more.
Professional Service: Peer reviewer, Journal of Competency Based Education (2015-present); Founded and administered Earth Education Resources for Two-Year College Faculty (EarthEd2YC; with Rusty Low, NASA Earth Forum Lead; 2014-2015); NAGT Geosciences for Two-Year Colleges (Geo2YC) executive board (archivist; 2012-2014); plus more.
