New Jersey State Teachers Association
The NJSTA mission is to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
NJSTA provides professional learning opportunities and resources to support all teachers for implementing the New Jersey Science Learning Standards. NJSTA sponsors and co-sponsors various activities including a new virtual OpenSciEd PLC, Science Table (virtual PLC), NJSTAChats (virtual discussions), N.J. State Science Day student competition, the NJSTA Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award Summer Institute, the New Jersey Science Convention (NJSC), and NJSTA two annual membership meetings. NSTA maintains a website, newsletter and social media platforms.
In our first year of partnership with OSE, NJSTA aims to 1) to create a Professional Learning Community (PLC) for users of OSE curriculum, 2) provide a Curriculum Launch over the summer 2024, and 3) to train new facilitators. The PLC will be a monthly, virtual, free PLC for NJ teachers who are using or who are interested in using OSE for middle or high school curriculum. The High School Curriculum Launch PL will be held during June 2024. This will not be district-specific, but open to any educators interested in using OSE materials. We will also be training additional NJSTA OSE facilitators over the course of this year.
NJSTA encourages and advocates for multicultural science education and culturally responsive learning for all students. As such, NJSTA supports PL centered around equitable learning practices as found in resources such as OSE’s curriculum, STEM Teaching Tools and Learning in Places. These resources encourage teachers’ use of culturally and linguistically sustaining practices in science education.
NJSTA will conduct a virtual, free PLC for all NJ science teachers using or interested in learning about OSE curricula. We are also working with NJSELA to help inform science supervisors about OSE’s materials. NJSTA will not be working, initially, with individual districts, however we will work with districts to find other PL providers for OSE adoption.
Where We Work
OpenSciEd Professional Learning
- Curriculum Launch
- Facilitator Training
- Ongoing Support/Unit Launch
OpenSciEd Grade Level Focus
- High School
- Middle School
Other Professional Learning
- Supporting Science Coaches