Ad Hoc Committees

Charges for ad hoc committees

ISTA Ad hoc committees

have a specific charge and duration of no more than one year, unless necessity requires a 6-9-12-month extension;
have a chair person appointed by President
chair shall recruit sufficient ISTA members (3-5?)*

may meet electronically to discuss, charge, composition and action timeline
possible web-conferencing
Announce for membership participation interests; suggestions by full board

created primarily to develop proposal(s), actions, answers, according to charge*

general template provided
may request conference session for action/announcement/work session, Click here for call for presentations.
Announce for membership participation interests; suggestions by full board

provide preliminary update to the Executive Board prior to its spring meeting; (may be verbal to President )*
send electronic report/action plan to the full board by June 1 for review and consideration of integration suggestions into diverse committee work *
make presentation during annual June board meeting*

which will focus on intense, collective presentations and recommendations from all ad hoc committees
for cross-pollination, consolidation, replication
for prioritization of action steps
for finalization by the following September, as possible

may report by January 15 to Executive Board with recommendation for creation of standing committee to handle specific proposed responsibilities

*for standing committees also

General instructions, per Operating Policy:

Ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the President within thirty days after taking office. The chair of each committee shall submit an end-of-year report of activities and expenditures to the President by January 15.

Development and Integration of Engineering Teaching Standards and Indicators Ad Hoc Committee

March 2010 Charge:
Develop partnership with TEAI, and college/universities through University Council for proposal to work with ISBE to incorporate a more focused engineering (technological design) emphasis for Illinois.

E-Communications Ad Hoc Commitee

March 2010 Charge:
Develop infrastructural capabilities and guidelines for ISTA, with direct coordination with webmaster, including (but not exclusively):

• As described/implied in strategic plan

Web-based membership surveys and protocols
Posting of research findings, linkage and discussion
Exploration of details to implement recommendations from standing and ad hoc committees
Development of ISTA overall web site design, review, and refinements,

portion closed to board only (for membership database access minutes and other documents;
portion for member only access;
portion for public access.

ISTA list server management and coordination, in coordination with UIUC-MSTE staff and membership chairperson
Framework options for online professional development opportunities, ideas, webinars, and calendars, etc.

This infrastructure needs to be designed so that other committee work can proceed.
Additional ad hoc committees may be appointed.

Marketing Ad Hoc Commitee

March 2010 Charge:
Research, design, contract for, advertise, sell, and ship ISTA merchandise to provide teachers useful materials, to improve ISTA visibility, and to net some income.

Appointment: Vacant

New Teacher Development Initiative Ad Hoc Committee

March 2010 Charge:
Develop an action plan to build and sustain ISTA networking capabilities among and between teacher-educators, supervising/master teachers, teachers of science with initial certification and pre-service teachers, especially those who are participating in NSTA-student affiliate organizations.

Propose and pilot strategies at the 2010 ISTA conference, which can provide optimal learning experiences for preservice teachers, eventually formalizing an ISTA network for this stage of their learning (realizing that approximately 20% of the 2009 attendance was by students; building on the NSTA-student affiliate models, adding significance toward being an ISTA-student affiliate;
Propose and pilot strategies at the 2010 ISTA conference, which can provide optimal learning experiences for initial certificate teachers, eventually formalizing an ISTA network for this stage of their careers, with options for mentoring, etc.
Propose and pilot strategies for the 2010 ISTA conference, which can provide optimal professional collaboration experiences for teacher-educators, eventually formalizing an ISTA network for these leaders and their common and unique responsibilities and challenges.
Propose and pilot strategies for the 2010 ISTA conference, which can provide optimal professional collaboration experiences for teachers who are/have been/will be/want to become master teachers (clinical faculty, per NCATE), supervising preservice teachers, eventually formalizing an ISTA network for these leaders and their common and unique responsibilities and challenges.
Propose a framework for web-based communications options for these individual networks, with appropriate supportive oversight and support.
Propose financial and mentoring incentives for creating or revitalizing existing student chapters.
Choose appropriate and compile quantifiable data about Illinois teachers of science and project goals for ISTA new teacher networks.
Evaluate the value of establishing an ISTA standing committee for New Teacher Networking.

Appointment: Dr. Ken King, Chairperson; Dr. Loretta Meeks
This ad hoc committee will work directly with the Membership standing committee.

Partnerships Ad Hoc Committee

March 2010 Charge:

Initiate partnerships with emerging network with state agencies and organizations, as described in 4.1
Initiate emerging partnerships with leaders from diversity of Illinois’ network of informal education leaders from nature centers, zoos, gardens, museums, planetariums, aquaria, etc., as described in 4.3
Initiate partnerships with other state professional organizations which have similar missions, audiences, goals for improving science teaching and learning
Develop a template for Memorandum of Understanding which emphasized mutual benefit between ISTA and interested organizations. (examples: IsAAPT, IACT, IABT, TEAI, EEAI, etc.)

Appointment:: Gwen Pollock; Amy Sandgren; Christian Greer; Gil Downey; Sheila Rawlings (Burpee Museum); Carl Wenning; Sarah Livesay

Publications Transition Ad Hoc Committee

March 2010 Charges:
The input for decision that the ISTA board faces will be sequenced between the March and June board meetings. It is anticipated the ISTA board will consider information provided at the March meeting and ask the Publications Transition committee to provide finer details for pilot test options for any new Spectrum format options for the June meeting.

Provide the expressed or implied purpose of the Spectrum as it now exists. Propose wording options that can express its purpose (expanded and/or narrowed) for accomplishing the mission of ISTA.
Provide an analysis of the costs of publication and distribution of the Spectrum. List/describe current dilemmas as associated with bulk mailing vs. first-class mailing, etc.
Suggest publication options for board consideration. (Brainstormed by Executive Board: one of three issues to be electronic, with two remaining as full hard copy; all three electronic only; combination of hard and electronic options by annual member choice, partial hard copy with an on-line supplement, dual platforms with web counter for ‘hits’, website display of past/recent/current, issues, etc.) Include editor’s preferences and perceptions.
Generalize a comparison between the Spectrum to other state STA chapters, along with other Illinois professional organization publications. Generalize any trends, as possible.
Define the ISTA membership wants or needs for its organizational publication through membership survey options. (Work with Gaubatz and Baker, especially). Generate 5-10 questions that will inform the board. Include options for how/whether we should incorporate timely updates for opportunities, announcements, resources, etc.
Project financial costs associated with the current Spectrum cycles with projected cost implications for board-determined publication options. Consider increased demands on webmaster time and effort, initially and over time, as possible. Include current advertising income and ensuing alternative income options.
Propose how the ISTA board can evaluate the impact of a transition experimental pilot.

Appointment: Judith Scheppler

Safety Transition Ad Hoc Committee

October 2009 Charge:

Develop a plan for an ISTA web-based space which incorporates the latest updates, instructions, explanations and resources that promote the best practices and processes for science safety in Illinois classrooms
- Identifying and prioritizing the needs Illinois teachers of science for safety in their classrooms, including ( but not confined to) storage and disposal of chemicals, curricular integration options for classroom and career applications, safe use and maintenance of equipment, position statements, etc.
- Design of website framework for inclusions such as synchronous and a-synchronous access to presentations, materials, and links to established resources
- Develop design parameters for the incorporation of ISTA member involvement and ISTA partnerships with expertise from business/industries, colleges/universities and other professional organizations, with full consideration of non-endorsement policy stand of ISTA and NSTA
- Projection of timeline for immediate and on-going action for ISTA
Consider proposal of creation of standing safety committee for ISTA

Appointment: John Loehr, appointed; Mike Wallace