As a member of MSTA, you have a voice, and we want to hear it! In the conference evaluations, it was indicated that more sessions were needed in different areas. This is very good to note, but we need to know specifics so that the conference will meet your needs.
Linked here is a two-question survey. Before accessing the survey, please think about sessions you would like to see at the 2026 conference.
Clipboard with solid fill Click here for survey
Now for the difficult question: Are you willing to be a presenter for a session at the MSTA 2026 conference? Now is the time to start planning!
Does attending the MSTA conference make a difference? YES! According to one member who attended the 2025 conference in Meridian: “This conference was three days long. I wanted five days! I went to my classroom with ideas and enthusiasm.”
From MSTA President, Dr. Carl Dewitt
Use current events for opportunistic learning!
Need a fun day with CEUs? Join us at MSTA Goes North! This is a small taste of what you can expect at our fall conference. There are hands-on sessions with teacher approved activities.
MSTA Goes North Registration 2026
2026 MSTA Goes North Registration
Location: Northeast Mississippi Community College (Booneville)
There is a new fun, innovative, and creative center for students and the community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast called Wayfinder STEM Hub. It has everything- VR, indoor drone training, robotics, areas for videos and podcasting, augmented reality tech, eSports area, a creative maker space, and a community activities room just to name a few. Just last week I got to tour this new STEM activity space and then show my creative side in a Valentine’s cookie decorating community class there. There is something for the life- long learner in everyone.
If you are looking for a fantastic STEM trip for your students, The Wayfinder STEM Hub, powered by Catalyst Learning, is now booking STEM field trips for schools and student groups. Their fully facilitated, standards-aligned experiences are designed to maximize instructional time while providing engaging, hands-on learning opportunities.
Wayfinder STEM Hub is located at 15096 Creosote Rd., Suite A, Gulfport, MS 39503 The Wayfinder STEM Hub can offer a structured, three-hour field trips featuring small-group rotations led by trained facilitators using advanced STEM technology.
Students in grades 2–12 participate in collaborative, problem-solving activities that connect classroom learning to real-world applications and career pathways. Each visit can accommodate up to 60 students.
Field trip features include:
Three-hour fully facilitated experience
Customizable STEM rotations such as drones, virtual reality, engineering challenges, esports, 3D design, and planetarium exploration
Integrated career exploration
$15 per student ($12 for Early Partner/Pilot schools)
All activities are led by Catalyst Learning facilitators, allowing teachers to focus on supporting and supervising students throughout the experience.
You also book birthday parties, community and homeschool groups, or curate your own learning path. If you are interested in scheduling an event or activity for a class, grade level, club, or enrichment group, you may contact support@catalystlearning.net for booking information or check out their website
Why S3?
S3: Sustainable STEM By-the-Sea operates year-round STEM camps for students in grades 3 - 8 and provides professional development for K12 teachers interested in learning how to use our curriculum in their classrooms.
S3 connects students, teachers, and communities to solve real, local problems through place-based STEM.
This new research and outreach program from the Center for STEM Education at The University of Southern Mississippi incorporates the unique characteristics of the Mississippi Gulf Coast into every lesson, using hands-on learning to explore ecosystems, test ideas, and communicate solutions while connecting people, place, and planet.
S3 Teacher Training
K–8 teachers often want to teach STEM and sustainability but frequently face obstacles:
• They’re asked to teach outside their specialty (e.g., elementary ed majors teaching life science).
• Tech and tools change fast, and training rarely keeps pace.
• Big topics can feel hard to make local, kid-friendly, and classroom-ready.
Sustainable STEM By-the-Sea offers two ways for teachers to learn how to incorporate S3 curriculum design into their classroom: CEU-certified online modules
• Hands-on field-based learning
• With either option, teachers receive classroom-ready lesson plans, instructional tool kits, and virtual coaching support. Bonus: we cover the CEUs.
More information on how to apply coming soon! https://stembythesea.org/s3teachers
We’re thrilled to introduce the RACI x Rebel Girls Project — a groundbreaking initiative celebrating Women with Disabilities in STEM and empowering young people to see that STEM truly is for everyone.
This collaboration between the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and the global storytelling brand Rebel Girls brings to life the stories of remarkable women who are breaking barriers and reshaping what it means to succeed in STEM.
Rebel Girls is an award-winning global platform that’s reached over 43 million girls through books, podcasts, and media that showcase real-life women role models from all backgrounds. Together, we’re shining a light on scientists, innovators, and educators whose experiences with disability have shaped their resilience, creativity, and impact in STEM.
Free resources for schools and communities!
The RACI x Rebel Girls Project includes:
• A beautifully illustrated e-book, featuring 12 inspiring women in STEM.
• An engaging podcast episode featuring blind astrophysicist Wanda Diaz-Merced, who listens to the universe.
• Engaging classroom & at-home activities designed to spark curiosity and discussion about inclusion, innovation and STEM.
All materials are free to access, share and download from www.raci.org.au/racixrebelgirls
The Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society will provide classroom grants to teachers. The grants are intended to provide teaching/classroom aids to enhance earth science curriculum. In the past, grant money has been used to purchase mineral specimens, posters, mineral identification kits and other classroom aids. Grant applications are available online at missgems.org, as well as our annual gem and mineral show. A portion of the proceeds from the show are used to fund the grants. Please share this with teachers that you know.
The wait is over – the World of 8 Billion student video contest has officially opened for the 2025-2026 school year. Students in grades 6 through 12 (and international equivalents) are invited to take on the challenge of creating a short video that connects population growth with one of today’s most pressing global issues. This year, participants will choose from three important topics: Energy, Wetlands, or Economics. PopEd will also be offering mini-grants on a rolling basis through October 31, 2025 to qualifying teachers to support students' success. The contest officially opened on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, and all entries must be submitted by March 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Learn more about this year's contest here.
For more information: https://www.nemcc.edu/mobilelearning/index.html
MPB is Here to Help!
MPB DEN Videos – Biology, ACT, and Other Secondary State-Tested Subjects
Mississippi Public Broadcasting is proud to support Mississippi teachers with highquality, free instructional videos designed to lighten your load. MPB offers over 100 videos per course for all secondary state-tested subjects, including U.S. History.
These videos are:
• Created by certified, highly qualified educators
• Aligned to current Mississippi standards
• Ideal for new teachers, long-term substitutes, or those teaching tested subjects for the first time
• Great for remediation, review, or supplemental instruction
You can find them on YouTube by visiting the MPB website, clicking the Learning tab, selecting Digital Education Network, and choosing the course you’re interested in. Click here: https://www.mpbonline.org/education/classroomresources/den/
MPB Canvas Courses – Ready-to-Use Instructional Support
To further support teachers, MPB has developed free Canvas courses that align directly with our DEN videos. These can be accessed through Canvas Commons by searching for “Mississippi Public Broadcasting.”
The biology course, for example, includes:
Daily lesson plans
Assignments and guided notes
Quizzes, projects, and unit tests
Teachers are welcome to download, customize, and use these resources however they see fit.
These offerings are completely free and reflect MPB’s continued commitment to empowering Mississippi educators with practical, effective tools for the classroom.
We are looking for your help in discovering what science topics interest students. This will help us decide what topics to explore in upcoming resource development.
How does it work?
Share with educators in your community (or your own students!) Have their students fill out a survey on which topics they are most curious about. Students or teachers will start with a cluster of topics based on these themes: Plant Systems, Biological Engineering, Natural Resources, Animal Systems, and Food Science, and then vote from there. Answers are anonymous!
Phenomena Farm! is a new collaboration between Boston University’s Center for STEM Professional Learning at Scale, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, and Relevant Classroom. The project engages students and educators in identifying which scientific phenomena spark the most curiosity, creating a “curiosity map” to inform instructional design. Check it out
On The Farm STEM 2026 Applications Due
This is your last call to apply for the 2026 On The Farm STEM Immersive Experience in and around Madison, WI, July 20–23, 2026.
Applications are due February 13, 2026, and we don’t want you to miss out if you’ve been considering it.
Why apply?
As a participant, you will:
1.Visit farms and agricultural sites to explore real-world science and engineering practices
2.Engage in hands-on workshops that support NGSS and three-dimensional learning
3.Connect with fellow science educators and agricultural experts
4.Leave with concrete ideas and plans for integrating food and agriculture into your instruction
2026 Nationwide Educator Resource Grants are now available! Applications close on February 22.
The purpose of these grants is to provide educator packs that include 1 copy of the Book of the Year, I Love Blueberries, 1 copy of the accompanying educator guide, and 1 set of 30 Blueberries Ag Mag Minis for educational use. By providing this grant, AFBFA and Nationwide Insurance hope to help educators teach young learners more accurate information about agriculture.
ACLIPSE: Advancing Climate Literacy through investment in In-Service and PreService Science Educators
The ACLIPSE course engages grade 6–12 teachers and teacher candidates in climate science/change activities using authentic data. ACLIPSE uses climate science as the context for applying current research about teaching and learning aligned with the Framework for K–12 Science Education. Educators and their students also improve their skills for using and interpreting real- and near real-time data. ACLIPSE includes instructional materials developed with NOAA's financial and scientific support.
Audience: College & university
K-12 educators
Opportunity Type: In person
Online
June 8-12, 2026 | 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Mississippi Student Naturalist camp
Calling all students ages 14–17! Join us for an exciting 5-day summer camp exploring the incredible ecosystems of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Campers will discover the animals and plants these habitats support, learn how these ecosystems are managed, and dive into hands-on activities that highlight real volunteer opportunities. Along the way, students will build a deeper connection to the coast and be inspired to become stewards who help preserve and protect these vital ecosystems for the future. Students will gain the certification of Student Naturalist upon completion of the camp.
At the MSU Coastal Research & Extension Center | 1815 Popp’s Ferry Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532
For more information: https://masternaturalist.extension.msstate.edu/student-naturalist
World Wildlife Fund
Educator Resources
https://www.worldwildlife.org/teaching-resources
National Science Teaching Association Supporting Teachers
Teacher Professional Conferences
Location
Date
NSTA Anaheim, CA April 15-18, 2026
NCTM Annual Conference Denver, CO October 28-31, 2026
AAPT National Meeting Pasadena, CA
Summer July 18-22, 2026
New Orleans, LA Winter January 9-12, 2027
Washington, DC Summer July 31August 4, 2027
NABT Professional Development Conference Dallas, TX
October 29 - November 1, 2026
ISTE Orlando, FL June 28-July 1, 2026
AERA Los Angeles, CA April 8-12, 2026
Presentation/ Registration
https://my.nsta.org/event/2026A NA
https://www.nctm.org
https://aapt.org/Conferences/meet ings.cfm
https://nabt.org/
https://conference.iste.org/
https://www.aera.net/
ACS Atlanta, GA Spring March 22-26, 2026 https://institute.acs.org/ Chicago, IL Fall August 23-27, 2026
New Orleans, LA Spring March 21-25, 2027
NAEYC Washington, DC December 5-8, 2026
American Geophysical Union Annual Meetings
San Francisco, CA December 7-11, 2026
https://www.naeyc.org/
Student Competitions
Meet your MSTA board member, Jake Kealhofer, Informal Science Representative.
Jake Kealhofer is an experienced science educator and STEAM specialist at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, where he is dedicated to supporting and celebrating the work of Mississippi’s educators. With a decade of experience teaching high school science, Jake brings both classroom insight and a deep commitment to educational innovation. At MPB, he plays a key role in creating free, high-quality instructional resources through the Digital Education Network, planning engaging professional development opportunities, and spotlighting outstanding teaching practices across the state. His work is driven by a passion for empowering teachers and enhancing learning through creative, accessible content.
Meet your MSTA board member, Alicia Connerly, program coordinator.
Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. is an accomplished educational leader, nationally recognized STEM advocate, and transformational administrator with nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education. She currently serves as Federal Programs Director for the Marion County School District, where she leads initiatives focused on data-driven instruction, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), professional learning, and leadership development to improve student outcomes across the district.
Previously, Dr. Conerly served as principal and assistant principal in the Lawrence County School District, where she was recognized for strengthening school culture, increasing academic achievement, and implementing innovative support systems for both educators and students. Her career began in the classroom as an elementary and secondary science teacher and later expanded into district science leadership, curriculum development, and instructional coaching roles, fueling her passion for equitable access to highquality STEM education.
Dr. Conerly made history as the 2024–2025 President of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), becoming the youngest person ever elected and the only Mississippian to hold the role. She has contributed to national committees, policy initiatives, and equity-focused efforts in science education while collaborating with organizations including the Mississippi Department of Education.
She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from William Carey University and additional advanced credentials in educational leadership and STEM. A recipient of numerous national and state honors, grant awards, and leadership recognitions, Dr. Conerly is also the founder of PUSH 4 Science Educational Services and Crowned 4 GreAtness, LLC, a published author, and an active community servant committed to empowering educators, inspiring students, and transforming communities through education.
Thank
MSTA Board of Directors
Executive Board
President: Carl Dewitt, PhD
President-elect: Adrine Williams, EdD
Immediate Past President: Cindy Alsworth-Jones
Treasurer: Melinda Miller (also Website, Scholarships)
District Directors Coordinator: Lillie Akin-Knighton
Area Representatives
College/University: Bill Scott, PhD
Community College: Michelle Baragona, PhD
High School: Heather Thornton
Middle School: Bobby Robinson
Elementary School: Lori Matzek
Independent Schools:
Industry:
Informal Education:
Jake Kealhofer, MPB
Pre-service Teachers: Lacey Fitts, PhD
MDE Liaison: Kevin Gaylor, EdD
Parliamentarian: Johnny Mattox, PhD (also Historian)
Social Media: Christy Sheffield (also Exhibits Coordinator)
Professional Liaison: Joe Sumrall, PhD (also Student Competitions)
Program Coordinator Alicia Conerly, EdD
About the Board of Directors:
The MSTA Board of Directors are volunteers who believe in science education within Mississippi. We receive no payment nor discounted rates for our service.
