FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Cindy Workosky
National Science Teachers Assn.
(703) 312-9248
cworkosky@nsta.org
National Science Teachers Association Selects University of Missouri-Columbia Student to Be First to Serve On Preservice Committee
Arlington, VA, February 18, 2005—The National Science
Teachers Association (NSTA) has named Elegan Lee, a third-year science education
student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the first Preservice Teacher
Member of NSTA’s Teacher Preparation Committee. This marks the first time
a student has served in a leadership role on an NSTA committee.
Members of the Teacher Preparation Committee review all NSTA policies, programs, research, and teacher development activities related to the preparation of science teachers and work to support highly qualified teachers of science in our nation’s schools. NSTA added the new student position to build stronger ties with and enhance communication with its student chapters and the preservice science teacher community. NSTA also seeks to increase the participation of preservice and early-career teachers of science in NSTA activities and better promote the professional development of these teachers.
Lee currently serves as president of the University of Missouri-Columbia NSTA Student Chapter, is a Peer Advisor for the University’s Women in Science Freshmen Interest Group, and is a teaching assistant for the Chemistry Department. She serves as secretary for the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education and is a member of both the Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity and the Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society in Education. Lee has also won many awards for her outstanding achievement, including the Missouri Minority Teacher Scholarship from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Curators Scholarship from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
In this new position with NSTA, Lee will participate in meetings and activities of the Teacher Preparation Committee, seek out and represent the concerns of other future science teachers and NSTA Student Chapters, and communicate these concerns to the committee, the Preservice Director, and other officers and members of NSTA. Her term on the Committee runs for one year beginning on March 31 at the NSTA National Convention in Dallas where she will participate in special events and meetings.
“We are pleased to name Elegan to this new position and believe her participation will strengthen NSTA’s work in the preservice arena” said NSTA President Anne Tweed. “We chose Elegan after conducting a highly competitive national search. We were especially impressed with her strong leadership skills, outstanding academic record, and thoughtful ideas about how NSTA can better connect with preservice teachers,” she added.
Lee is studying to be a unified high school chemistry teacher, which enables her to teach advanced chemistry as well as basic level science courses, including biology, physics, and Earth science. She is due to graduate in 2006.
Lee is from the St. Louis area and attended Parkway district schools. She credits her high school science teachers for giving her the inspiration and encouragement to explore her love of science.
“I’ve always enjoyed tutoring and helping people learn. When I made the connection to science, I knew that science teaching was going to be my lifelong career,” said Lee. “I’m excited about this new leadership opportunity with NSTA and will work to address the special challenges of preservice teachers, including the need for strong mentoring opportunities and more classroom resources.”
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
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