November NMAS update

The NMAS has been busy recently, and I wanted to update you. The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) made a decision to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The adoption of these standards was a priority for NMAS this year, and I applaud the personal efforts that many of you made, as well as the work the NMAS Board members put into educating the public and the PED on the merits of these standards. Also, we recently had our annual meeting where we honored our science teacher of the year. The annual meeting for the third year in a row was held in conjunction with NM EPSCoR: the NMAS members helped to serve as moderators and poster judges. The NMAS also finds a keynote speaker for the symposium luncheon; this year Prof. David Gutzler from UNM gave a wonderful talk on climate change science and what the role of scientists should be in the debate: perfect for the EPSCoR students in attendance. Thanks to all of the NMAS members who helped with the event and to all of you whose dues make it possible.

David Peters
2017 NMAS President

The New Mexico Public Education Department enacted the Next Generation Science Standards with no omissions or content changes, except for the addition of six New Mexico-sepcific points. The NMAS fought hard for the adoption of the NGSS and wants to thank all of the scientists across the state who wrote, called, or emailed their support. A special thanks to those of you who attended the public hearing in Santa Fe. These standards are not simply a list of science topics to cover, but a whole pedagogy for science education. We have discussed the NGSS content in prior emails. What you may not be familiar with are the six NM-specific additions:

First grade: 1-SS-1 NM. Obtain information about how men and women of all ethnic and social backgrounds in New Mexico have worked together to advance science and technology.

Fifth grade: 5-SS-1 NM. Communicate information gathered from books, reliable media, or outside sources, that describes how a variety of scientists and engineers across New Mexico have improved existing technologies, developed new ones, or improved society through applications of science.

Middle School Earth & Space Science: MS-ESS3-3 NM. Describe the advantages and disadvantages associated with technologies related to local industries and energy production.

High School Life Science: HS-LS2-7 NM. Using a local issue in your solution design, describe and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of human activities that support the local population such as reclamation projects, building dams, and habitat restoration.

High School: HS-SS-1 NM. Obtain and communicate information about the role of New Mexico in nuclear science and 21st century innovations including how the national laboratories have contributed to theoretical, experimental, and applied science; have illustrated the interdependence of science, engineering, and technology; and have used systems involving hardware, software, production, simulation, and information flow.

High School: HS-SS-2 NM. Construct an argument using claims, scientific evidence, and reasoning that helps decision makers with a New Mexico challenge or opportunity as it relates to science.

This year we had a fantastic science teacher to honor: Jessica Sanders from Roswell. Jessica has many science activities to help students better understand science both inside and outside the classroom. Below is the press release from NMAS. You may have seen it as it was picked up by both the Albuquerque and Roswell newspapers. Here is the article and picture in the Albuquerque Journal and the Roswell Daily Record. We thank our colleagues at the Central NM Local Section of the American Chemical Society through their support of our teacher of the year by giving the recipient a $250 cash award. (from left to right in picture, Donivan Porterfield and Ning Xu representing ACS, Jessica Sanders, David Peters representing NMAS)

On Saturday, November 4, the New Mexico Academy of Science will present the New Mexico Science Teacher of the Year award to Jessica Sanders.

Jessica Sanders is a remarkable Science Teacher at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico where she teaches 6th and 7th grade sciences. Mrs. Sanders is identified as a consistent exemplary teacher within the district, where she esteems students and the entire district staff as an imperative part of the science education structure. Mrs. Sanders has been pivotal in bringing her middle school and school district forward in STEM Education and she looks forward to being an educational leader with the implementation of NGSS. Mrs. Sanders is noted for providing numerous STEM opportunities to not only her student population, but furthermore to her local Girl and Boy Scouts councils. Mrs. Sanders continues to advocate for rigor in scientific content for the future of Science Education in New Mexico. Mrs. Sanders had authored and won the Devon Science Grants grant, The Prices Dairy Grant, and Girls Moving Forward in Sports Grant. She is also currently a top 16 finalist for the Golden Apple Award to be announced at the end of November 2017.

Each year, the New Mexico Academy of Science solicits nominations from middle schools and high schools around the state for science teachers that have gone above and beyond the call in teaching science to their students. The winners are announced at the NMAS Annual Meeting, which is usually held in early November. The Outstanding Science Teacher awards have been given since 1968. Prior to 1990, awards were given to a K-12 teacher and a post-secondary instructor. From 1990-2016, awards were given to two K-12 teachers annually, one to an elementary grade level teacher and one to a middle or high school level teacher. Starting in 2017 the Teacher of the Year awards will focus on science teachers teaching grades 6 to 12. The American Chemical Society will present a monetary award to the NMAS winning teacher.

A November Update