Building a Presence for Science (NSTA/SECO)

The SMART Consortium is partnering with the Science Education Council of Ohio (SECO) in the National Science Teachers Association's Building a Presence for Science initiative.  SECO is the state coordinating organization for this effort, which is being supported by funding from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

 The goal of Building a Presence for Science (BaP) is to end the isolation of classroom science teachers by:

• Identifying a point of contact for standards-based science teaching and learning in every Ohio school;
• Establishing an electronic network of science educators; and
• Creating an infrastructure of national and state partners who are advocates for effective science teaching and learning.

A statewide network of “Key Leaders��? will drive BaP in Ohio. These individuals may be classroom teachers, principals, science supervisors, university educators, or other science education professionals. Key Leaders will serve as "team captains" to a group of Points of Contact -- science teachers in area schools.  In undertaking this role, Key Leaders will:

• Play a leadership role in a statewide effort to encourage standards-based science teaching and learning;
• Promote the use of standards-based science tacher and learning, Ohio Science Standards, share information about statewide and local opportunities, and other science resources;
• Engage in professional development and networking with science-teaching colleagues at local and state levels; and
• Gain professional recognition throughout the local community and the state as leaders in the effort to enhance science education.

If you would like to learn more about NSTA Building a Presence for Science activities and events, or are interested in serving as a Point of Contact for your school, click here.