NSTA Voices

 In this episode, recorded live at the NSTA conference in Anaheim, hosts Andrew Kuhn and Patrice Semicek sit down with Erica Carter, a middle school science teacher from Louisiana whose path to the classroom was anything but traditional. From 11 years in a hospital microbiology lab to an alt-cert entry into teaching — right in the wake of COVID — Erica shares how life experience shaped her into a uniquely compelling educator. She opens up about living through Hurricane Ida, the disruption it caused for her school and community, and how her story ultimately became part of a winning application for the Shell Science Lab Challenge. A testament to resilience, resourcefulness, and what happens when you just try. 

 What if your science assessment could also be your most powerful teaching tool — and it was completely free? In this episode, recorded on the final day of the NSTA Anaheim conference, hosts Andrew Kuhn and Patrice Semicek sit down with Deborah Atwell of the Los Angeles County Office of Education and Aneesha Badrinaryan, founder of ABG Learning and Assessment, to explore the ATLAS Task Bank — California's open, free repository of over 1,350 K-12 science performance tasks built around real-world phenomena and three-dimensional learning. From a fifth-grade task about a Native Alaskan community watching its homes erode into the sea, to a student who walked in saying she hated science and walked out wanting to do it again, this conversation makes a compelling case that when students are given something real to figure out, everything changes — including what teachers believe their students are capable of. 

What does a company approaching its 50th anniversary look like when it refuses to stay stuck in the past? In this episode, recorded live on the exhibit floor at the NSTA Anaheim conference, hosts Andrew Kuhn and Patrice Semicek sit down with Mason Schoolcraft, head of product and sourcing at Flinn Scientific, to explore how a company that started by making chemistry classrooms safer has grown into a full-service hands-on learning partner for educators at every level. From a disposal guide for chemicals that have been sitting in a closet since 1942, to ready-to-go lab kits for elementary teachers with only 20 minutes of science time per week, Flinn is meeting teachers exactly where they are. Mason also shares why AI has its limits when volatile chemicals are involved — and why bedazzled goggles might just be the best marketing strategy in science education. 

 Science teacher vacancies are approaching 17% nationwide — and almost nobody is talking about it. In this episode, recorded live on the exhibit floor at the NSTA Anaheim conference, hosts Andrew Kuhn and Patrice Semicek sit down with James Brown, Executive Director of the STEM Education Coalition and NSTA policy advisor, and Juan Carlos Agular, Director of Innovative Programs and Research for the Georgia Department of Education, to dig into one of the most underreported crises in American education. From the ripple effects of COVID wiping out advocacy momentum, to the stark reality that some districts are staffing science classrooms with whoever they can find, this conversation pulls no punches. But it doesn't stop at the problem — James and Juan Carlos lay out what individual teachers, organizations, and communities can do right now to make their voices heard where it counts most: in front of policymakers. 

 Recorded live from the NSTA conference in Anaheim, this episode features Zarek Drozda and Hannah Kurzwell from Data Science for Everyone — a national initiative working to bring data literacy into K–12 classrooms across every subject area. We dig into what "data science" actually means for students (hint: it's not about becoming a data scientist), why the ability to think critically about data matters more than ever in an AI-saturated world, and how science educators can start building these skills without a data science degree. From the Zettabyte Era to garbage-in-garbage-out, this conversation is equal parts eye-opening and empowering — and a must-listen for any educator wondering how to make their classroom more relevant to the world students are actually entering.

In this episode, we welcome Donna Burnett, Executive Director of the K-12 University Center at RIT, to discuss the transformative work of the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). Moving beyond simple skill-building, Donna highlights how AEOP fosters a national STEM workforce by focusing on the "human element" - helping students from elementary school to postdoctoral levels find their authentic career fit. We dive deep into STEM Foundations, an innovative initiative born out of the pandemic to support students through reflection, mentorship, and "failing forward." By helping youth build resilience maps and craft their own STEM stories, the program ensures they don't just enter these fields, but thrive in them. Whether you are a student, parent, or educator, tune in to learn how AEOP is bridging the gap between talent and long-term success. Visit AEOP at Ana26, Booth 551!

There's Disney — and then there's Anaheim. Join us as Scott Oklin, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Anaheim, takes us beyond the resort district to the hidden speakeasies, authentic churro trucks, vibrant cultural markets, and unexpected neighborhood gems that make this city worth staying one more night. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned conference-goer, this episode will have you planning your itinerary before you ever board the plane. 

The next generation of science educators has arrived — and they are ready. In this episode, hosts Andrew Kuhn and Patrice Semicek welcome Laci Hoover and Jeremy Gruver, two senior education majors from Shippensburg University, for a candid conversation about what it actually means to step into a classroom in 2026. From building real relationships with students in just eight weeks to competing with TikTok through hands-on science inquiry, Laci and Jeremy offer a refreshing, ground-level view of where science teaching is headed. They also share how plugging into the NSTA community early — long before graduation — has already shaped the kind of educators they're becoming. 

This episode of NSTA Voices is part of the NSTA Anaheim Pre-Conference Series.In this episode, NSTA President-elect Donna Governor discusses the urgent shift needed to move science education into a "future-ready" era. Drawing from a career that spans 40 years - ranging from the days of five-inch floppy disks to the age of AI—Donna explains why science must be more than a 20-minute-a-day afterthought or a reading comprehension exercise. She explores the concept of "wicked problems" - complex, global challenges like climate change and energy - that require students to move beyond academic silos and embrace transdisciplinary systems thinking. Tune in to hear how educators can support student-centered inquiry and iteration to ensure the next generation is truly prepared for the world they will inherit.

This episode of NSTA Voices is part of the NSTA Anaheim Pre-Conference Series.Discover why NSTA Conferences are the ultimate "refilling station" for educators. Retiring NSTA president Dr. Alicia Conerly joins the podcast to discuss breaking down professional hierarchies and finding a safe space to celebrate the value of science education. From first-timer webinars to high-energy general sessions, learn how to navigate networking and turn "sit-and-get" professional development into an active, life-changing community. Whether you are a veteran leader or a nervous newcomer, this conversation proves that when scientific minds unite, they don't just teach - they move mountains.