Illinois Science Teachers Association

• General Information
• Network Organization
• State Coordinator
• Super Key Leaders
• Key Leaders
• Points of Contact
• Current Key Leaders and Points of Contact
• State Partners Program Benefits

General Information

Building a Presence for Science (BaP) is an electronic network initiated by the National Science Teachers Association and implemented in Illinois by ISTA to foster communication, collaboration and leadership among science educators. Through this network teachers and other science educators are provided with information about professional development opportunities and science teaching resources.

The mission of BaP is to:

• end the isolation of classroom science teachers;
• provide professional development opportunities;
• and provide science teaching resources to those involved in science education.

BaP goals include:

• having a Point of Contact in every school;
• establishing an electronic network of science educators;
• and creating an infrastructure of state and national partners.

Network participants, Key Leaders, Points of Contact and State Partners, are considered to be advocates, communicators, and leaders in science education.

The regional structure of BaP Illinois follows the regional structure of ISTA. Each region has two or more Key Leaders assigned as Super Key Leaders.

Although membership in ISTA is not required to become part of the BaP network, all network members are encouraged to join.

Network Organization

The following diagram illustrates the BaP Illinois network:

All members of the network including the State Partners have the ability to share ideas and information with each other by using the BaP web site bap.nsta.org to send email or by posting ideas or questions on the Illinois Message Board.

State Coordinator

The State Coordinator organizes and maintains the BaP network. He or she works with the Key Leaders and Super Key Leaders to encourage professional development opportunities throughout Illinois. The State Coordinator meets face to face annually with other BaP State Coordinators and BaP representatives from NSTA and is able to network with all of them electronically throughout the year. All BaP electronic communication is managed by the State Coordinator including the Illinois BaP Network News, message boards and email.

Super Key Leaders

Super Key Leaders identified by ISTA Regional Directors from current Key Leaders in their Region and appointed by the State Coordinator. They have the same responsibilities and opportunities as a Key Leader, but they work with the BaP State Coordinator to encourage participation in a variety of regional professional development opportunities. The Super Key Leaders also maintain contact with Key Leaders & Points of Contact in the Region.

Key Leaders

Responsibilities

• Be an active participant in the NSTA/Building a Presence online network; including identifying of Points of Contact at schools currently without one.
• Keep current email addresses and school addresses for your Points of Contact.
• Email Points of Contact at least once a month to disseminate local information and determine their needs.
• Receive and distribute information and materials from NSTA, ISTA and other organizations to your Points of Contact.
• Advise Points of Contact on science issues.
• Serve as an advocate for the Illinois State Goals for Learning, the Standards, Benchmarks and Descriptors.
• Be knowledgeable of the National Science Education Standards and the AAAS Benchmarks.
• Work with your regional Super Key Leader to facilitate professional development opportunities in your area.

Opportunities

• Participate in regional and state BaP Key Leader training and professional development sessions.
• Receive current information and updates from NSTA, ISTA and other organizations.
• Learn from other science educators.
• Serve and advise on local or regional committees focusing on science education.
• Gain professional recognition.

If you are interested in taking more of a leadership role in your school district, county or area of Illinois; and are currently a Point of Contact who would like to become more actively involved in the Building a Presence for Science Program, consider stepping-up to become a Key Leader. To do so please contact me at lipscomb@imsa.edu and include the following information:

• Your first and last name
• Your e-mail address
• The name and address of your school
• The county in which your school (district) is located
• Your current teaching assignment
• A short essay indicating your reasons to become a Key Leader and what other leadership roles you have or have had.

Points of Contact

Responsibilities

• Be an active member of the NSTA/Building a Presence online network.
• Receive information and materials from the BaP network and disseminate the information to your peers.
• Enhance your teaching skills (content and pedagogy).

Opportunities

• Participate in regional professional development meetings and opportunities for science leaders. These often provide credit toward your recertification efforts.
• Serve and advise on school/district committees for school improvement; science curriculum committee; parent-teacher organizations or other as appropriate.
• Be a resource to other teachers in your school/district.
• Develop your leadership skills.
• Gain professional recognition.

To volunteer to become a Point of Contact go to the Building a Presence web site at bap.nsta.org.

• Find the box that states "Become a Point of Contact" on the right side of the page.
• Select "Illinois" from the pull-down menu and then click “Submit”.
• Enter your school's city and/or zip code and click “Submit”.
• Click on your school's name from the list.
• Fill in all required information and click “Submit”. If your school already has a PoC, his or her name will be listed as well as his or her Key Leader.

Current Key Leaders and Points of Contact

Learn how to navigate the BaP and ISTA websites. Download the Building a Presence for Science Web Tutorial (PDF). It will help you to learn how to log on to the BaP website (bap.nsta.org) and find your own page; help you to change your contact information; give you access to the Illinois message board; and many other options.

State Partner Responsibilities & Opportunities

Building a Presence for Science Illinois State Partners are supporters of the BaP goals, including high quality science teaching and learning opportunities for all (Advocacy). They also have the opportunity to work with and support science educators and broaden the awareness of their organization or institution throughout the network (Communication, Collaboration, Resources). Illinois State Partners include a variety of educational organizations, foundations, informal science organizations, businesses and government groups.

Advocacy

Responsibilities

• Support standards-based science education
• Support the vision of high quality science learning opportunities for all
• Support providing highly qualified teachers in all classrooms
• Support the development and/or maintenance of a successful infrastructure in the science education community

Opportunities

• Work with and support science educators
• Broaden awareness across networks

Communication/Collaboration

Responsibilities

• Designate one person who will serve as your organization’s liaison to the Building a Presence program
• Provide timely information and standards-based resources to Building a Presence participants through the online system
• Work with the Building a Presence state coordinator to organize and/or promote workshops on the Building a Presence program and science standards, as well as other professional development opportunities

Opportunities

• Continuous access via the Building a Presence state coordinator to an expanding network of science educators for state partner-generated communication
• Share information statewide
• Collaborate with other State Partners
• Receive recognition in the Building a Presence for Science page of Illinois Science Teachers Association web site-- www.ista-il.org
• Expand contacts to the larger network

Resources

Responsibilities

• Offer resources aligned to the vision of high quality science learning opportunities for all

Opportunities

• Offer your resources to support standards-based science education
• Stewardship of developing new leaders in science education in Illinois
• Offer discounts and/or direct benefits to teachers
• Provide your resources and knowledge to be used by schools and Key Leaders and Points of Contact

For more information contact:
Mary Lou Lipscomb
Building a Presence for Science—Illinois State Coordinator
lipscomb@imsa.edu