Dear ASTE Colleagues:

Registration is now open for the fourth interactive paper discussion in the series, Call to Reflection and Action 2025, to be held on Wednesday,  September 17th from 1-2pm Eastern.  Jarod  Kawasaki and Sandy Change will be presenting the following JSTE paper 

• Exploring the Goals of Social Justice Teaching Through the Eyes of Early Career Science Teachers

Please register for the zoom link here https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/JWw1kDWzRGmXNGvQwaKl2A and information about the meeting will be sent to you.

Please direct questions to Erin Peters-Burton at epeters1@gmu.edu.

Dear ASTE Board & Members,  We are soliciting contributions for the Summer ASTE Newsletter. If you have a short piece/announcement that would be beneficial to ASTE members you would like included in the newsletter, please submit it via this Google form: https://forms.gle/UW5qcgFM8HjfLYT3A by August 26th so that we can assemble this edition and get it off for review before being shared with the full ASTE community.  Regional Directors! Don’t forget to share with us what’s going in your region! We are also looking for some ideas for the Op Ed or feature piece for this and future issues. If you have something interesting, thought-provoking or related to any current events, please submit to us with a short description of your idea on the Google Form.  Also, if you have any new resources or publications, let me know that too! Send us a short blurb with the appropriate information for how to access it and I will get it published too!  If you have any questions or require guidance regarding the newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact us!  Please include a head shot with your submission so we can include it with your submission. Because we want to continue to connect all ASTE members with each other, we value these photos. Therefore, be warned that if you do not share a photo, we can pull images from online (e.g., linkedin, university faculty pages, past newsletters, past conferences…).   Sincerely, Jennifer Oramous & Michelle Schpakow

Hello ASTE Friends!

It's time to sign up to be a mentor or a mentee at ASTE ‘26. There is a continued need for mentors and mentees as we grow our ASTE community at the conference. Last year, we had a nice showing (over 60 people involved; approximately 35 pairs), and we would like to continue that trend. If you've attended an ASTE conference before and are willing to share your experiences with ASTE and their expertise, sign up to mentor. If you feel you could use someone to ask questions of and get a little guidance from, please don't hesitate to sign up as a mentee. The links to sign up are provided below, along with the mentor-mentee obligations. When you fill out the mentor or mentee form, you will share information about your research interests and areas within which you would like guidance (mentee) or that you can provide mentorship (mentor). This information will help us match mentors with mentees.

The deadline for signing up is Friday, November 28th. After the deadline, we will match participants who have signed up and send an email to inform you of your match and provide details about mentor-mentee events at ASTE ‘24. You only need to complete one form of your choice. So, if you see the form or the link for the form in other correspondence after you've already filled it out, you do not have to complete it again.

Mentor Obligations:

• Communicate with your mentee before the ASTE conference to choose a time to meet during the ASTE conference

• Meet with your assigned mentee (virtually or in person) at least once during the ASTE conference

• Provide support and advice to your assigned mentee during the ASTE conference and if possible, facilitate useful connections/collaborations

Mentee Obligations:

• Respond to your mentor before the ASTE conference to choose a time to meet during the ASTE conference

• Meet with your assigned mentor (virtually or in person) at least once during the ASTE conference

Sign up to be a mentor

Sign up to be a mentee

Thank you! If you have any questions ahead of signing up, please contact Isaiah Kent-Schneider at Isaiah.Kentschneider@gmail.com

Dear ASTE Colleagues:

Registration is now open for the fourth interactive paper discussion in the series, Call to Reflection and Action 2025, to be held on Wednesday,  September 17th from 1-2pm Eastern.  Jarod  Kawasaki and Sandy Change will be presenting the following JSTE paper:

• Exploring the Goals of Social Justice Teaching Through the Eyes of Early Career Science Teachers

Please register for the zoom link here

 https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/JWw1kDWzRGmXNGvQwaKl2A and information about the meeting will be sent to you.

Please direct questions to Erin Peters-Burton at epeters1@gmu.edu.

Dear ASTE Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit proposals for the ASTE Sponsored Session at the upcoming 99th NARST Annual International Conference, titled “Joyful Transgressions and Radical Imagination in Science Education”, which will be held in-person April 19–22, 2026 (with a virtual pre-conference day on April 9) in Seattle, Washington.

This session, co-sponsored by ASTE and NARST, invites visionary contributions that bridge theory and practice to reimagine science literacy in ways that advance justice and support all learners, reflecting NARST’s core mission.

Please consider revising your ASTE conference proposals by incorporating new examples or updated data, refining your research questions or arguments, adding brief literature updates, clarifying key concepts, or improving clarity and focus to ensure your proposal offers a distinct and meaningful contribution.

To submit a proposal for the ASTE Sponsored Session at NARST, please complete the Google Form available at the link below by September 12, 2025.

NARST/ASTE Presidential Session Proposal Submission Form

If you have any questions about the Presidential Session, please feel free to reach out to John Pecore directly at jpecore@uwf.edu.

We look forward to receiving your imaginative and impactful proposals!

We’re writing to share an important update to how ASTE manages its membership cycle—designed to simplify the process and better align with conference registration timelines and ASTE’s new suite of electronic services.

What’s Changing?
Beginning August 1, 2025, ASTE will shift to a rolling membership model. This means your membership will be valid for one full year from the exact date you join or renew—rather than following the traditional calendar-year cycle (January 1–December 31).

Why This Matters:
This change helps eliminate past confusion tied to conference registration. In previous years, members had to hold active membership for the calendar year of the annual conference to access the discounted member registration rate. With our new rolling model:

• Anyone with an active membership at the time of registering for the conference will receive the member rate—regardless of when they joined.
   

• For example:

  • If you join ASTE on October 1, 2025, you’ll have access to the members-only registration rates for the 2026 conference once they are made available through the ‘Member Resources’ dropdown menu on the new ASTE website.

  • If you join on January 3, 2026, you’ll also get access to the discounted member rate through the same mechanism.

Plus, no more guessing about renewal dates!
Our new membership management system will send out automatic reminders to renew your membership based on your individual join date—so you won’t be caught off guard when it’s time to renew.

That said, please note that it is now each member’s responsibility to ensure their ASTE membership is active at the time they register for the annual conference in order to receive the discounted member rate for the upcoming conference. 

We hope this update supports a more flexible, user-friendly experience for both new and returning members.

Thank you for being part of the ASTE community. We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 conference!

Warmly,
ASTE Leadership Team

Hello ASTE Members,

If the new proposal submission system caused you to miss the proposal deadline, we have extended the due date to be Tuesday July 15th at midnight. If you have any technical difficulties, please be sure to reach out to des@theaste.org for help. Find the submission portal and other important information here: https://theaste.wildapricot.org/Proposal-Submission-Portal

Did you miss the opportunity to sign up to volunteer as a reviewer for ASTE 2026? It isn’t too late! Sign up to volunteer here: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86oTHtuK6Cv6Zx4

Dear ASTE Colleagues:

Registration is now open for the third interactive paper discussion in the series, Call to Reflection and Action 2025, to be held on Wednesday, July 30th from 1-2pm Eastern.  Julie Brown and Michelle Joyce will be presenting the following JSTE paper:

• The Emphasis on Multicultural Science Instruction in NSTA Science Scope and the Science Teacher Journals

Please register for the zoom link here https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/i-zNQQc7QBiFU6924HDVJQ and information about the meeting will be sent to you.

Please direct questions to Erin Peters-Burton at epeters1@gmu.edu.

Dear ASTE Members,

We're excited to share an important update about our website and membership management system.

As part of our broader electronic transition, users who visit www.theaste.org will automatically be redirected to our new website and membership management platform, now provided by WildApricot. The new system offers enhanced functionality, improved navigation, and a more user-friendly experience for managing your membership and accessing ASTE resources.

Membership and Profile Information:
If you are a 2025 ASTE member in the current system, you will be able to access the new member portal with your membership and profile information already transferred. To login you need to use the same email address as used in the original ASTE site. Once logged in, you will also have the opportunity to reset your password, review your information and customize your privacy settings according to your preferences.

Login Instructions:
If it is your first time accessing the new member portal, you may need to reset your password. Please click "Forgot Password" on the login page to establish your credentials within the updated system.

Important Membership Information:
If you are not a 2025 member in the current system and want to become a member, you will need to register as a new member for the 2025 membership year through the new platform.

New Feature – ASTE Job Board:
The new ASTE website features an online Job Board, where current members (at no cost) and non-members (i.e., fees will apply) can easily submit job openings and view current opportunities in the field. Members will also have the option to subscribe to job board updates directly on the site, making it even easier to stay informed about new position announcements.

Additional Reminders:

• The redirection from theaste.org will occur automatically — no action is needed on your part to find the new site.
   

• Members will receive personalized email communications through the new system to manage membership renewals as we approach the end of the membership year. These communications will be sent 90 days before the renewal date (early October), 30 days before the renewal date (early December), and on the actual renewal date (January 1). If not renewed within 7 days, member status will be changed to lapsed. 
   

Thank you for your patience and support as we complete this transition. Please stay tuned for additional updates.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,
Maria Wallace

ASTE Director of Electronic Services

des@theaste.org

Graduate Assistant to the ASTE Executive Director 2025-2027

We are currently in the process of accepting applications for the position of Graduate Assistant to the Executive Director for the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE). The successful candidate will assume responsibilities on August 15, 2025, and serve a two-year term with continuation based on positive 6-month performance reviews. The work is largely remote excluding the annual ASTE conference.
 
Individuals currently enrolled in a public or private graduate school program related to science education are encouraged to apply. Support is provided by ASTE for the position including a $1000 yearly stipend, complimentary membership to ASTE, and complimentary registration to the annual ASTE international conference. The graduate assistant shall attend the annual conference to assist the Executive Director. ASTE shall budget $2000 to cover these expenses.
 
Requirements:

• Ability to interact with ASTE leaders and members in a professional manner
• Ability to maintain confidentiality for all ASTE work related to the position
• Ability to work in an online environment
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, often with tight timelines
• Proficiency in Google Forms, Microsoft Office including Excel, and merging PDF files
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Meetings with Executive Director and/or Director of Electronic services once every two weeks
• Strong institutional/advisor support for this position
• Preference given to those with at least one year remaining in a graduate program in science education or related field
• Preference given to candidates with ASTE familiarity/experience
• Access to stable internet connection    

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Manage, format, and update ASTE leadership spreadsheets
• Oversee the production of award certificates and plaques
• Edit and update SOPs after each board meeting, 4 times per year
• Solicit and compile agenda items for board meetings
• Organize and manage board meeting travel planning
• Manage, print, and file conference name badges
• Station the ASTE office at conferences when the ED is in board meetings
• Manage the creation of the annual conference luncheon PowerPoint presentation
• Create and manage google forms for scheduling and organizing meetings
• Assist in liaising with conference hotel staff to support conference activities
• Attend and support graduate student functions at the annual conference

It is estimated that the assistant will spend about 16-25 working hours per month, with more hours during conference and board meeting periods and less at other times.  Except for responsibilities during the conference, which is in-person, all other activities will be performed virtually.
Please apply by June 15, 2025 with one document including: 1) Cover letter of interest, 2) CV, and 3) a letter of support from a graduate advisor or graduate program director.

Send application materials to Ron Hermann at Executivedirector@theaste.org.