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• WSTA Presents Bite-Size PL - Problems of Practice with WSTA

  • Start
    Thursday, March 05, 2026
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, May 07, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  
  

  WSTA Presents: Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

  Problems of Practice with WSTA

  March 5, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, In Zoom

  A New Monthly Series

  Clock Hours Available

  To prepare for this session and subsequent sessions, please fill out this survey to get your ideas as soon as you can:

  Problems of Practice Survey:

   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3nWeke8yJbpjnt2vLbY3Lzyyk-ZO0KO-gkIbHqIKZVDN2AA/viewform?usp=header

  Join our WSTA Region 9 (ESD 114) Representative Marcia Garrett as she leads a discussion on problems of practice in education.  This is an interactive discussion with teachers to solve educational issues. Please bring your problems of practice to the discussion and be ready to provide input on problems you would like to see addressed so the facilitators can research and focus on those issues and discuss solutions in a collaborative group setting.

  

  Marcia Garret, WSTA Region 9 Representative

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Take a Load Off!
  WSTA Presents Bite-Size Problems of Practice sessions to help you find a community of like-minded, inquiry science educators.  Trouble getting kids to speak up when student discourse is essential.  How can you REALLY assess what students got out of that lesson? Can you invite a sense of excitement into your classroom and still meet standards? Each one-hour monthly session will focus on one or more problems of practice that you bring to the group. We will use a protocol to share problems and explore solutions. The first Thursday of every month. One hour max. This series is for all teachers, from small and large districts. This series is sure to inspire hope.

  Register at the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) website under Event Calendar or at the following link: https://wsta.wildapricot.org/EventCalendar Clock hours are available for a fee.

  After you register, you will be sent a Zoom link to attend. To obtain clock hour information or questions, contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator at: wstaose@gmail.com.

  
  

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• WSTA Bite-Size PL: Why Do Elephants Rarely Get Cancer?

  • When
    Thursday, March 19, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    31

  Register

  

  
  

  WSTA Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

  March 19, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Why Do Elephants Rarely Get Cancer

  Available to Members Only!

  Membership is $25 for a year of amazing science professional learning.

  Become a WSTA Member here. 

  Join at: https://wsta.wildapricot.org/Join

  • Why Do Elephants Rarely Get Cancer? 

    Please join Dr. Jeanne Chowning and Peggy O’Neil Skinner as they explore Elephants and Cancer, one of the newest curriculum resources from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center’s Science Education Partnership! This short (4-lesson) unit delves into a mystery: Elephants are the largest land mammals, with huge bodies that are made up of exponentially more cells than smaller organisms – cells that could mutate over their long lifespan. And yet, elephants rarely get cancer. This is thought to be due in part to their extra TP53 tumor suppressor genes, which code for the p53 protein. Through a comparison of elephants, humans, and four other organisms, students learn why elephants’ genetic makeup makes them less susceptible to cancer. 

    Session Highlights:
    ●     The Elephants and Cancer mini-unit, which was featured in NSTA’s The Science Teacher in 2025, can be modified for Intro, Advanced, or AP Bio and can also be used to supplement Open SciEd materials. 

  Presenters:

  Jeanne Chowning, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Science and Community Partnerships, Office of Education and Training, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

  Peggy O’Neil Skinner, Educator and Curriculum Developer, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

  Who Should Attend: All educators are invited! This includes K-12 teachers (Science, STEM, CTE), instructional coaches, TOSAs, principals, and district leaders.

  Registration Information: Please register via the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) Event Calendar. Link: WSTA-Washington Science Teachers Association - Events  A Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

  Clock Hours: For questions regarding clock hours, please contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator, at puyalluppruett@gmail.com.

  
  

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• WSTA Bite-Size PL, Classroom & Laboratory Safety: Building a Proactive Science Safety Culture

  • When
    Thursday, April 23, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    In Zoom

  Register

  

  WSTA Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

   April 23, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00pm 

  Classroom & Laboratory Safety:

  Building a Proactive Science Safety Culture

  Open to All

  Register Here: WSTA Bite-Size PD

  Clock Hours Available

  Classroom and Science Lab Safety:

  Join Dr. Elizabeth Braun, Director of Educational Content and Learning at the Laboratory Safety Institute, for an engaging session on creating safer, more effective science classrooms and laboratories. This presentation will move beyond compliance checklists to explore practical strategies for building a proactive safety culture in K–12 settings

  Session Highlights:

  ●      Learn how to create safer classrooms

  ●      Learn practical strategies for building a safety culture in the K-12 setting

  Presenters:

  Dr. Elizabeth Braun, Director of Educational Content and Learning, Laboratory Safety Institute

  Who Should Attend: All educators are invited! This includes K-12 teachers (Science, STEM, CTE), instructional coaches, TOSA’s, principals, and district leaders.

  Registration Information: Please register via the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) Event Calendar. Link:WSTA-Washington Science Teachers Association - Events  A Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

  Clock Hours: For questions regarding clock hours, please contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator, at puyalluppruett@gmail.com.

  
  

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• WSTA Bite-Size PL- School AI: Teacher-monitored, Student-safe AI "Spaces" for Practice and Inquiry

  • When
    Thursday, May 21, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    39

  Register

  

  
  

  WSTA Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

  May 21, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  School AI: Teacher-monitored, Student-safe AI "Spaces" for Practice and Inquiry

  By Al Gonzalez

  Available to Members Only!

  Membership is $25 for a year of amazing science professional learning.

  Become a WSTA Member here. 

  Register Here: WSTA Bite-Size PD

  • Artificial Intelligence:
    Al helps teachers use AI in ways that keep the teacher in control, protect students, and make classroom workflows lighter—without sacrificing rigor.

  Session Highlights:

  This session features an introduction to SchoolAI Spaces: teacher-built, interactive AI experiences where students can learn and explore within guidelines you set.School AI

  Participants will first enter a Space as students (10–15 minutes) for a math/science use case (e.g., phenomenon sensemaking coach, lab safety decision-maker, error-analysis tutor, vocabulary in context). Then I’ll model how to create that Space (15–20 minutes), including writing the AI prompt, selecting standards, and attaching resources like readings, rubrics, or worksheets.School AI

  The rest of the hour is build time: you’ll create a Space you can use next week, test it in preview, and refine it with guardrails (tone, boundaries, what to do when unsure, citation expectations, etc.). SchoolAI emphasizes being teacher-monitored, “student safe,” and designed to alert educators to critical safety concerns.SchoolAI

  Requirements:

  Participants will need a laptop. They will create a free educator account during the session and leave with one ready-to-run activity.

  Presenters:

  Al Gonzalez, Chimacum Elementary School, AI Educator

  Who Should Attend: All educators are invited! This includes K-12 teachers (Science, STEM, CTE), instructional coaches, TOSAs, principals, and district leaders.

  Registration Information: Please register via the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) Event Calendar. Link: WSTA-Washington Science Teachers Association - Events  A Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

  Clock Hours: For questions regarding clock hours, please contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator, at puyalluppruett@gmail.com.

  
  

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• #WSTA26 Conference on Science Education

  • Start
    Friday, October 23, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • End
    Saturday, October 24, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham, WA

  Register

  Register for Washington State's Only Science Education Conference!

  
  

  October 24, 2026

  Bellingham, WA

  Join us for exciting presentations, field trips, social gatherings, amazing featured speaker, STEM clock hours, prizes, vendors, and great learning about science and environmental education. We will have pre-events scheduled on the Friday night preceding the conference. More information coming soon! 

  We have many different ticket options and a special deal for districts who can send 5 or more of their teachers or >50% of their science teachers from a single school. If you're interested in the district deal, you can read more here and/or email WSTACommunicationsTeam@gmail.com to ask questions or get started on registering teachers!

  New and preservice teachers can get a deeply discounted rate and a free membership to WSTA! Email WSTACommunicationsTeam@gmail.com to get the code to register. 

  Head over to our conference page for updates including events, schedules, list of vendors, and more!

  General questions? Contact our conference team!

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• Exhibitor Registration: 2026 Washington State Conference on Science Education

  • When
    Saturday, October 24, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham, WA
  • Registered
    Be the first

  Register

  

  Exhibitor Registration for 

  Washington State's Only Science and Environmental Education Conference!

  October 24, 2026

  Bellingham, WA

  
  

  The Washington Science Teachers’ Association (WSTA) and Washington's Professional Association for Environmental Educators (E3 Washington) invite you to join us as an exhibitor at our annual conference this fall in Bellingham, WA. We are committed to providing you with an outstanding conference experience including a lively exhibition hall amidst the conference lunch, keynote, and check-ins. 

  
  

  Note that the gold package includes one presentation. All other exhibitor presentations will need to be submitted through our application process and are due on 5/9/2026.

  
  

  If you have any questions or want to talk about any additional options for supporting the conference don't hesitate to reach out!

  
  

  
  

  Available Packages

  Cu (Copper) Package Non-Profits Only $350	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides
  Ag (Silver) Package $600	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides
  Au (Gold) Package  $800	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides *First Pick of Table Location (in chronological order of registration) *1 Session of Exhibitor's Choice

  Dates and Deadlines

  10/3	Exhibitor Registration Closes
  10/10	Last day to make registration changes.
  10/24	7:00 am Exhibit Hall Open for Set-Up 8:00 am Conference Begins 5:00 pm Conference Ends 6:00 pm Exhibits Must be Torn Down

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