Leadership Development of New Science
Division Coordinators
A unique facet of VISTA is its focus on building statewide infrastructure through professional development of science education leadership at the school division level. To support new school division science leaders with 5 years or less of experience, VISTA offers the New Science Coordinator Academy. This five-day event focuses on:
- Honing science leadership skills
- Developing district-level, inquiry-based science strategic plans
- Creating standards-based curricula
- Developing effective teachers and leadership capacity through science communities of practice
- Using data to make program decisions to improve student achievements
A team of district-level science leaders, university science educators and other science education experts plan and deliver the academy's instruction.
For all participating science division coordinators, VISTA will provide all expenses paid for attendance at the one-day Virginia Science Education Leadership Association (VSELA) Fall meeting to focus on professional growth activities.
I have nothing but great things to say about the training. The training was interesting, informative and helpful. Interacting with colleagues across the state is an added bonus! I hope that all new coordinators will take advantage of the opportunity.
One of the best professional development opportunities that I have ever received. Not only building content knowledge, but the understanding of inquiry, nature of science, and problem-based learning, and hands-on science that has allowed me to be a more knowledgable curriculum leader as well as lead teachers in their understanding of inquiry, nature of science, and problem-based learning, and hands-on science. I feel more prepared than ever before and would reccomend this opportunity for any coordinator. Thank you all for the experience.
Being a school leader in a central office position can be isolating. Often, your primary role is that of steward, facilitating the development of the teachers and administrators within the school system. The enormity of that role leaves little to no time to focus on one's own growth as a leader. Pair that with the fact that the halls of academia offer limited development opportunities in the domain of division leadership (given that most licensure programs focus more on school leadership), and new science coordinators and their counterparts are left to "grow as they go".
That is no longer the case for me, thanks to VISTA's NSCA. Being a part of the spring's NSCA brought me into a network of school leaders all wrestling with the same competing priorities. Imagine learning with a group of folks from all across the state that have similar roles as you, that bring with them similar challenges as you, that experience various "bright spots" of success that you could not even imagine. As a series of workshops, the learning was quite helpful (especially the first day's School Leadership game/simulation); as a chance to grow with a community of science leaders, the time spent was invaluable. I could not recommend it highly enough.
New Science Coordinator Academy: October 3-5, 2012 and April 18-19, 2013
Three days in Fall 2012 and two days in Spring 2013 at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. All expenses to attend (room, meals, mileage) are paid by VISTA and each participant is eligible for a $2000 honorarium.
School Division New Science Coordinator Academy Application
Application Deadline: Deadline extended
- School Division Science Coordinator Application - Click Here
