WSST 2026 Conference App
President's Message
ppletonasweflyandjourneyupalongthefamousFoxRiver!So heefforttobehereinpersonatour69thannualWSSTconference I hbeyondyourhorizonstofullyexperiencethecollaborative mentourconferencehastooffer Thankyoutothe2026conference KydeandTerrySchwaller,andtherestoftheconferenceplanning bersfortheirdiligenceanddedicationinorganizingallour ooffer.Ifyougetthechance,pleasethankthempersonallyfortheir
YourWSSTBoardofDirectorsandcommitteechairsareavolunteergroupof highlymotivatedscienceeducatorsfromacrossWisconsinworkinghardtoprovide high-qualityprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesthroughouttheyear.Iliketo thinkofWSSTasabigfamilyofscienceeducatorswholookoutforeachotherand helpwherevertheycan sowelcometoour69thannualWSSTfamilyreunion!Ifyou arenew,pleaseattendtheNewAttendeessessionorreachouttoaconference committeememberifyouhavequestions.IremembermyfirstWSSTconferencein Manitowocbackin1991whensomeonetookmeundertheirwingandmademefeel welcome Itismyhopethatsomeonewillbethatwingpersonforyouthisyear
Someofthehighlightsyoushoulddo:Goovertheconferencescheduleandfind acoupleofsessionseachhourthatinterestyou Haveanopenmindtofullyengage inhowthatpresentationmightfitintoyourteaching Don’tfeeloffendedtoleavea sessionifitdoesnotfityourinterests,gojoinanewsessionthathour Gettoyour first-choicesessionassoonaspossibletoensureyouhaveaspottositandlearn.
AtsomepointbyFridayafternoon,savetimetocheckoutthevendorhalland talktothemanyvendorswhoarethere.ThebesttimetodothisisduringtheVendor SocialonThursdayfrom4–6pm,withcomplimentaryhorsd’oeuvresandbeverages availableforconferenceattendees.AlsocheckouttheWorldFamousRockRaffle, alsoduringtheVendorSocial,withwinnersannouncedat5:30pm.Makesuretopick upandfilloutthevendorcard,foundattheWSSTboothintheVendorHall.Your missionistocollectstampsfromthevariousvendorsfordifferentcategories,and turnitbackinattheWSSTboothintheVendorHallby3pmFridayafternoontobe eligibleforprizes.Youcouldliterallygohomewithaprizeworthmorethanyour conferenceregistration!AftertheVendorSocial,makeyourwaytotheMember Socialtoenjoymorefoodandfunwhilemeetingnewpeopleandreconnectingwith others,wheretherewillbemoredoorprizes!
Fridayisanotherfulldayofsessionsstartingat8am,includingtheopportunityto witnessandinteractwithfuturescienceeducatorsastheyshowcasediscrepant eventsattheExploratoriuminthevendorhallat1pm Visitmoresessionsinthe afternoon,andbesuretoattendtheWSSTtownhallmeetingat4pm,whenthebig vendorprizeswillbeawardedfromyourcompletedvendorcards.Youmustbe presenttowin.FridaywillconcludewithourannualMiltonPellaAwardsBanquet.
Saturdayincludesafullmorningofpresentationsaswell,andyouaremorethan welcometojoinusfortheWSSTBoardMeetingatnoon.Ihopeyouenjoyour amazingConferenceandIinviteeachofyoutobeawingpersonforsomeonewho isanewattendee!
-DennisRohr
ConferenceChairs' Message
“TheJourneyContinues”throughtheFoxValley!Thisyear’sstopfindsusinAppleton, WisconsinattheHiltonPaperValleyHotelandConferenceCenter,nestledjustablock awayfromtheFoxRiveritself.Ourconferencecommitteehasbeenhardatworkforthe pastyearandhalf,toensurethisyear'sWSSTConferencehelpsyoutocontinueyour ownjourney.
Thisyearweofferall50-minsessionsand110-minuteworkshopstoallconference participants.Nolongerdoyouneedtoworryaboutmissingoutonaworkshopdueto missingregistration Wehopethatthishelpsmeetyourprofessionaldevelopment goals,andbringgreatopportunitiesbacktoyourclassroom
Wealsohavemanyfantasticfieldtripsreadyforyoutoenjoy.OurFieldTripCommittee workeddiligentlytocreateaslateofopportunitiestoreacheducatorsofall backgroundsandinterests.YourjourneyaroundtheFoxValleyoffersalotofinteresting placestoexplore!
Thursdayat4:00pmthevendorhallwillopenwithourVendorSocial,wherefoodand beverageswillbeprovided.Oncethevendorhallisopen,youwillhavetheopportunity tovisitallofourfantasticvendorsandexhibitorssuchasSavvas,ImagineLearning,and RiponCollege Makesurewhileyouaremakingtherounds,thatyoufilloutyourBingo CardtowinfabulousprizesattheTownHallmeetingonFriday.Also,don’tmisswhatis shapinguptobeahistoricRockRaffle!
Thursdayat6:15pmjoinusintheEmpireRoomforthePresident’sMembershipSocial.In additiontomorefoodandbeverages,wewillbehavingascience-themedtrivia contestbroughttoyoubyWisconsinPubQuiz.Wewillhaveotheractivitiesthatconnect backtoourthemeofcontinuingourjourneysinscienceeducation!Also,itwouldn’tbea MembershipSocialwithoutdoorprizegalore!OurSocialCommitteehasbeenworking hardtofindyousomegreatprizesthatyoucanonlywinbybeingatthesocial
Fridayofferslotsofopportunitiesaswell.Don’tmisstheEdMuellerLuncheononFridayin theEmpireRoomatnoon.OurKeynoteSpeakerisMichaelWaasegiizhigPrice.Michael’s keynoteaddresswilllookathowcombiningIndigenousknowledgeandwisdomwith science,wemayfindnewwaystohonorandprotectoursacredecosystemsina resource-dependentworld.
FridayeveningalsobringsustheMiltonPellaBanquet.JoinusintheEmpireRoomafter theTownHallforsocializingandthenthebanquetmeal.ThePellaBanquetiswhereall ofourWSSTawardsandgrantswillbeawarded.Afterthebanquet,pleasejoinusfor onelasthurrahatAppletonBeerFactoryforthepost-banquetsocial!
Wehopethatyouenjoyyour2026WSSTConferenceexperience.Fromeveryoneonour conferencecommittee,thankyousomuchforattendingandcontinuingyourscience educationjourneywithus!
KristinKydeandTerrySchwaller,2026ConferenceCo-Chairs
UpcomingConference
DennisRohr,President president@wsst.org
Board of Directors
TerrySchwaller,President-Elect tschwaller@wsst.org
StephanieBaker,Secretary bakeste@wc.k12.wi.us
TammyDymesich,ChiefOperatingOfficer coo@wsst.org
KevinNiemi,ChiefFinancialOfficer kjniemi@wisc.edu
AndyPokrzwinski,District1Director andreaupnorth@gmail.com
TomDavies,District2Director tdavies@dce.k12.wi.us
SarahKlingbile,District3Director district3@wsst.org
MeganSprague,District4Director sprme@analaskaschools.com
PatrickMootz,District5Director pmootz@deforestschools.org
TeriDillenberg,District6Director teridillenberg@hasd.org
StaceyStrandberg,District7Director strandbergs@dsha.info
Awards/Recognition
Miranda Dahlke (co-chair)
Laura Ramthum (co-chair)
Tom Davies
Megan Spague
Stephanie Bartels
Michelle Howe
Karen Messmer
Jennifer Bault
Sue Whitsett
Document Review
Stacy Balbach (chair)
Dave Bergerson
Sue Whitsett
Chad Janowski
Elementary Education
Shelley Petzold (co-chair)
Leah Alburt (co-chair
Teri Dillenberg
Melissa Wimmler
Dawn Brenner
Foundation
Brian Bartel (President)
Denise McCulley (First Vice President)
Carol Ochsner (Second Vice President)
Dale Basler (Third Vice President)
Tracy Swedlund (Treasurer)
Ray Scolavino (Secretary)
Kevin Anderson (co-chair)
Kevin Niemi (co-chair)
WSST Committees
Equity and Access Finance
Kevin Anderson (co-chair)
Claire Bernatz (co-chair)
Sara Krauskopf
Zach Pratt
Kelly Steiner
Lalitha Murali
Karyl Rosenberg
Leigh Kohlmann
Sarah Ratelis
Membership/Public Relations
Michelle Griffin-Wenzel (chair)
Ray Scolavino
Tracy Swedlund
Deanna McClung
Matt Lindsey
Strategic Planning
Kevin Anderson (chair)
Dennis Rohr
Ray Scolavino
Kevin Niemi
Kristin Michalski
New Teacher Network
Sonja Gasper (co-chair)
Jamie Lauer(co-chair)
Stephanie Ruder
Megan Spague
Terry Schwaller
WESTA
Shannon Previte (chair)
Dennis Rohr
Chad Wilkinson
Michael April
Jonathan Baker
Megan Ludtke
Tomara Whiteaker
Kevin Niemi (chair)
Matt Lindsey
Terry Schwaller
Sue Whitsett
Higher Education
Adam Schafer (chair)
Joel Donna
Mark Olson
Ray Scolavino
Kevin Anderson
Nominations
Marcia Gardner (chair)
Steph Ruder
Communications
Brain Bartel (co-chair)
Julie Fitzpatrick (co-chair)
Sarah Adumet
Dan Nelson
Karyl Rosenburg
Professional Development
Jamie Groark (chair)
Kevin Anderson
Shelley Petzoid
Stacey Strandberg
Sonja Gasper
Andrea Christianson
Tom Davies
Conference Highlights
Thursday
7:00am ConferenceOpens
8:00am-4:00pm WorkshopsandSessions
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
4:00pm-6:00pm VendorSocial
6:15pm-8:15pm MembershipSocial
Friday
7:00am ConferenceOpens
8:00am-4:00pm WorkshopsandSessions
9:00am-3:00pm ExhibitHallOpen
12:00pm-1:00pm EdMuellerLuncheon Keynote-MichaelWaasegiizhigPrice
1:00-2:00pm Exploratorium
4:00-5:00pm TownHallMeeting
5:30-6:30pm Pre-BanquetSocial
6:30-8:30pm Banquet
8:30-11:00 PostBanquetSocial atAppletonBeerFactory
Saturday
7:30am ConferenceOpens
8:00am-12:00pm WorkshopsandSessions
12:00-2:00pm OpenWSSTBoardMeeting
PatArndt
ThankyoutoourSponsors
FEATURED SPEAKER
FRIDAY ED MUELLER
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
MichaelWaasegiizhig-PriceisAnishinaabeandanenrolled memberoftheWikwemikongFirstNationsinOntario.Michael receivedaMasterofScienceinForestryfromtheUniversityof Montana–MissoulaandaCertificateofOjibweLanguage InstructionfromBemidjiStateUniversityinMinnesota.Grounded inbothscienceandtraditionalNativeAmericansociety,Michael hassoughttofindconnectionsbetweenthesetwosystemsof knowledgeinatimewhenourworldfacesmanyecological crises.
Anishinaabepeoplehavealwaysrecognizedthe interconnectednessthatwe,ashumans,havetooursurrounding environment.Theseinterconnectionsarearticulatedandpassed downinthecommunitythroughstorytelling,language,and ceremony.Thispresentationwillofferanew,ratherancient, perspectiveinourconnectiontotheearthbasedupon Anishinaabeteachings.BycombiningIndigenousknowledgeand wisdomwithscience,wemayfindnewwaystohonorandprotect oursacredecosystemsinaresource-dependentworld.
MICHAEL WAASEGIIZHIG PRICE
2027 WSST Conference
Green Bay
3D Molecular Designs
American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science - WI
Amplify
Animalearn
BBC Learning Hub
Bio-Rad Labratories
BIOZONE Inc
Capital Microscope Services and Science Supplies
CAPP - UW Oshkosh
Carolina Biological Supply Co
Cengage Learning
Club SciKidz Greater Milwaukee
College of Natural Resources,
UW-Stevens Point
EAA
EDVOTEK, Inc
EF
Einstein Project
Engineering Tomorrow
ExploreLearning
Flinn Scientific
Focus on Energy
Food + Farm Exploration Center
Green Edventures
Horwitz-DeRemer
Planetarium, SD of Waukesha
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
EXHIBITORS
Imagine Learning
IPM Institute of North America
J&R Aquadic Animal Rescue
KEEP-Wisconsin's K-12 Energy
Education Program
Lab-Aids
LEAF Program, UW Stevens Point
Madison Area Builders Association
Maris Education
MiniOne Systems
miniPCR bio
National Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc
Nourish the Future
PASCO Scientific
PBS Wisconsin Education
Pilot Light
Ripon College
Savvas Learning Company
School Specialty FOSS
Seed of Change Research
SparkPoint Innovations
Switch Classrooms
The STEM Academy, Inc (STEM 101)
Trees for Tomorrow
UWM School of Freshwater Sciences
UW-Madison Science Alliance
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Professional Studies in Education
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Environmental Research and Innovation Center
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning
Wards Science
WEA Benefits.com
Wisconsin Air National Guard
Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Forestry Center
Wisconsin Science Festival
Wisconsin Wing Civil Air Patrol
WSST
WSST Prize Booth
UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
MiltonO.PellaBanquet
The Milton O Pella Banquet is named in memory of the individual responsible for the birth of the Wisconsin Society of Science teachers during the 19571958 academic year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Not only did Dr Pella bring together enthusiastic, science-minded individuals to start the organization, he cultivated it with people called "Pella Fellas." This was to ensure continued programs designed to "Improve Science Education in Wisconsin." He willed nearly $200,000 to the WSST Foundation to provide grants to individuals for academic pursuits, individual science initiatives, attending professional conferences, purchasing science equipment, special school science programs, and the Front and Center Grants.
Dr. Pella, a native of Wisconsin, was born in Wilmont in 1914 and lived his entire adult life in the Madison area. He attended elementary and high school in Burlington, earned his B.E. Degree at the Milwaukee State College and both his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing his Master of Science degree, Dr. Pella spent three years in the military. Starting in 1939, Dr. Pella (known as "Doctor" to his students) taught at Wisconsin High School on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison In 1948, Dr Pella became a member of the university faculty and retired as a full professor in 1980 While teaching at the university, Dr Pella was much sought after as an education consultant and teacher He served as Science Education Consultant to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Mexico, and India. In addition, he was active as a consultant and board member to a variety of federally funded science programs during the 1960s and 1970s.
Milton Pella was an active professional educator involved in many organizations such as the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. He also authored science textbooks and A History of the North Central Association of Math and Science Teachers (also known as The Association of Math and Science Teachers). His many achievements and publications are outlined in different editions of Who's Who. Milton Pella was at the forefront of modern science curricular design; his students were constantly reminded not to embrace change without a critical eye
The Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers was one of Dr Pella's major professional interests After providing the impetus that launched WSST, he provided years of advice and support to the organization. In addition, many of his former students have occupied positions of influence within WSST, keeping it pointed at its goal of improving science education in Wisconsin. We are very proud to celebrate Dr. Pella's devotion to science education and his contributions to WSST by naming our annual spring conference banquet in his memory.
SPECIAL EVENTS
WSST Timber Rattlers vs. Beloit Sky Carp Baseball Game Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
WSST Land Acknowledgement (v. 2/25)
We acknowledge that we are meeting today on the traditional homelands and territory of the Menominee and Ho-Chunk Nation. This area and Wisconsin in general continues to be the home to members of the Menominee and Ho-Chunk Nations and 10 other tribal nations.
We have a responsibility to understand and protect our environment, which includes recognizing the sovereign rights of Native peoples and the history of oppression of the peoples of our world
Understanding how Native peoples make sense of the natural world can enhance our science instruction and support work to care for the land, air, and water together
As an organization, this year we commit to:
● Continuing to seek partnerships with First Nations related to science and environmental education
● Using our platform to encourage and invite participation in DPI American Indian Studies circles Please help hold us accountable to follow up our acknowledgement with action and to continue to grow each year
We invite you to take the next few minutes to complete one of these steps to improve your acknowledgement of the peoples whose land, air and water we are occupying right now:
● Sign up for a session that will relate to Indigenous pedagogy or knowledge, such as: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Indigenizing your instruction
● Look up the communities for your school and one way to connect to their goals;
● Research one connection to the Indigenous communities represented at your school or on whose territory your school rests that you can tie into one unit this year;
● Find one opportunity to serve the natural environment, land, water or organisms of your community and schedule it into your calendar; or,
● Sign up for a text study circle, course or conference offered by the DPI American Indian Studies Program.
Resources:
https://wisconsinfirstnations org/seats-of-government/ - Wisconsin First Nations map and teacher resources
https://dpi wi gov/amind - DPI American Indian Studies resources
https://nativegov org/news/beyond-land-acknowledgment-guide/ - Beyond land acknowledgements
https://www npr org/2023/03/15/1160204144/indigenous-land-acknowledgments - NPR article on what comes after the land acknowledgment
EdMuellerLuncheon
TheFridaylunchatallWSSTconferenceswillhenceforthbeknownastheEd MuellerLuncheon. TheWSSTBoardinresponsetomanyrequestsand inquiriesfrommembershavechosentohonorourretiredExecutiveDirector, EdMueller,bynamingthisluncheonafterhim. EdtirelesslyservedWSST startingin1970astheNewslettereditor. HewasnamedExecutiveSecretaryin 1971addingtherolesoftreasurerandfallconferenceorganizer. Inthe1990’s WSSTaddedsupportfromAnneMurphyintheUW-OshkoshScienceOutreach Office. EdandAnnehandledallthemembershipandfinancialaffairsof WSST. WhenAnneleftWSSTin2003-04,Edtookoverallthenecessary administrativedutiestokeepWSSTsolventandfunctioning. EdheldWSST togetherforover40years! CongratulationsandthankyouEdforallyour yearsofservicetoWSST!
EXHIBIT HALL
THURS4-6PM
FRI9AM-3PM
