2022 WSST New - Board of Directors
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President: Kristin Michalski, Big Bend
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This is my 29th year teaching science and 25th year as a WSST member. In that time, I have served as secretary on WSST’s executive board, presented at conferences, and co-chaired a con- ference. As the 2015 conference co-chair, I arranged our statewide conference for over 550 participants and modernized our organization by setting up online conference registration for members. In addition, I built our first conference mobile app and have done so every year since. This allowed participants to view the conference schedule digitally and receive real-time announcements.
These activities positively impacted me as a learner and educator. My participation in WSST keeps me up to date on emerging technology, educational practices, and how to analyze and reflect on my teaching, increasing the equity of access for my rural students.
Budgets in many districts are shrinking and WSST is one of the most valuable, little to no cost resources for teachers. I would like to bring new insights to WSST and continue to find ways to involve our members in new (low cost) technologies such as podcasts and/or webinars. Finally, students’ problem-solving skills are the forefront for tomorrow’s careers. As your presi- dent, I would support inquiry/phenomenon- based curriculum development and experiences to develop the problem solvers of tomorrow. I would be grateful for the opportunity to contin- ue contributing to our organization as your president of the WSST organization.
Background Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, BS- Broadfield Science, University of Wisconsin- River Falls, MS-Physics Teaching
Present Teaching Assignment
Physics and Foundations of Chemistry and Physics Teacher, East Troy High School, East Troy, WI
Professional Activities: WSST Conference Planning Committee; Conference App Chair 2015-present; WSST Conference Planning Committee 2015 Co- chair; Presidential Award in Excellence in Science and Mathematics State Finalist, 2017 and 2021; National Board-Certified Teacher 2008-present; and Co-facilitator of Milwaukee Area Physics Share (MAPS)
Professional Organizations:
WSST, Milwaukee Area Physics Share (MAPS), NBPTS (National Boards), Wisconsin and Association of Physics Teachers (WAPT)
Interests:
Drawing pet portraits
SECRETARY: Stephanie Baker, Wonewoc​​
I have served on the WSST board as secretary for the past 3 years and I have really enjoyed it. WSST has long served as an advocate forscience education, and I hope to contribute to positive changes and maintenance of science education in the state of Wisconsin by serving as secretary. I would like to give something back to an organization that has helped me increase my content knowledge, improve my methods, and meet many positive energetic professional teachers, etc. I have multiple teaching experi- ences in grades K-8 ranging from urban settings in Knoxville, TN, and La Crosse, WI, to rural Wisconsin that will help me relate/help WSST continue to help science teachers. I believe that being a member of WSST is valuable because it allows greater access to teaching resources, including convention sessions, professional development opportunities, and other teachers who can share their ideas.
Background Information: Bachelor of Science from UW-La Crosse, Master of Arts in Instruction from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Reading Specialist 317
Present Teaching Assignment: Middle School Science at Wonewoc-Center Schools, grades 6-8 in earth, life, and physical science, Technology teacher
Professional Activities: WSST Secretary (2019- present), A LOT of Science physical workshop (2012-2014), UW-La Crosse physical science workshop (2015-2016), iTEAMS physical science work- shop (2017-2018), TAP mentor teacher (2009-2012)
Professional Organizations: WSST, ISTE, MESTA (Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association)​
Interests: Hiking, camping, reading, yoga, triathlons, travel, spending time with my family​
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DISTRICT 1 Erik Duhn, Grantsburg
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Position Statement and Vision
I have been a member of WSST since 2017. As soon as I joined I was drawn into participating in the documents review committee. After a while there, I have tried to take a more active role by switching to the nominations committee. Since my very first moment of meeting
members of WSST, it has been a joy to get to know all the members. I am glad to have joined and I want to spread this enthusiasm in my district. While I am not in the district physically, I hope to get members of the district together and pro- mote the message of WSST.
Background Education
B.S. Natural Science-Physical Science, Minors in Physics, Chemistry, and Math: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; B.A. Physics Education: University of Northern Iowa;
M.S. Chemistry-Chemistry Education: South Dakota State University
Present Teaching Assignment
Science Teacher - iForward Charter School
Professional Activities
Science Teaching Snapshot Presenter 2019
Professional Organizations
WSST, WEAC, AAAS, Phi Kappa Phi, EAA
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Interests
Running, Hunting, Outdoors
DISTRICT 4 Jonathan Baker, Wonewoc
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Position Statement and Vision
I am currently in my fourth year of teaching science at Wonewoc-Center High School, a very rural district in the southwestern portion of the state. Here, I am the only high school science teacher in the building and am therefore responsible for a wide variety of courses, ranging from biology to earth science to chemistry. Having this diverse teaching load, in addition to starting this career later in life and in a non-traditional route, I have had to rely upon the advice and assistance of many individuals to develop and strengthen my content knowledge and profes- sional teaching practices. In particular, my experiences with WSST have provided me opportunities to meet many brilliant and enthusiastic educators and accelerated my growth as a professional.
Looking through the newsletter archives, it is clear that WSST has long served as a central resource for science educators in our state. The organization affords many opportunities to its members, such as conferences, field experiences, grants, and networking. While the past
couple of years have been challenging to all educators, I believe that WSST has done an excellent job in navigating the hardships of this time through providing many virtual events to its members. As a district director, I would continue to promote the organization to teachers in my district and help to further develop and implement its many resources. As WSST is a solely volunteer organization, it is necessary for us as members to look towards widening the organization and involving the next generation of educators who will one day serve as our
leadership.
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As part of promoting our organization, I also believe that we should strive to be fully inclusive. While WSST has become much more gender balanced, our organization is far from diverse. It is our responsibility to serve as a voice for those cultures, races, ethnicities and other underrepresented groups and advocate for their inclusion not only in our organization, but also in our classrooms and science as a whole.
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Background Education
B.S. in Archaeological Studies, UW-La Crosse; M.A. in Anthropology with an emphasis in Zooarchaeology and Statistics, University of Tennessee Present Teaching Assignment
Science Teacher, Wonewoc-Center High School
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Professional Activities
Instructor, FBI Human Remains Recovery Training School, University of Tennessee Participant, Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association and WSST Joint Field Geological Field Experience (summer 2021)
Collaborator, Freshwater Mussel Survey of the Baraboo River, Wisconsin DNR
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Professional Organizations
WSST, Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association, Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
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Interests
Camping, canoeing/kayaking, cooking, freshwater mussels, archaeology, home brewing