- Home
- Events
- NJSTA Events
- Rockstar Science Teacher Series
Rockstar Science Teacher Series
Each Session during the 2025-26 school year will have its own registration. NJSTA Members can attend for FREE and will have access to recordings! Non-members are asked to pay for each session. Please consider membership to attend all and have access to recordings! PD Certificates will be presented after each session to those that attend. | Become a Rockstar Science Teacher by learning strategies and best practices for the New Jersey Science Learning Standards. In this series of interactive programs you will explore strategies for sensemaking and have a better understanding of the strategies for contemporary science instruction (versus traditional). The 2025-2026 Rockstar Science Teacher Series will dig deeper into the Cross-Cutting Concepts. Session 1 on October 29, 2025 Crosscutting Concepts: An Introduction This session will explore the role crosscutting concepts can play in the classroom. Of the three dimensions, the crosscutting concepts are oftentimes not explicitly addressed in the classroom. During this session we will discuss strategies to make the crosscutting concepts explicit thinking tools in your classroom. This session will set the stage for the following conversations which dive deep on a single crosscutting concept. Presented by Lynn Prosen and Jackie Katz. Lynn is a past president of NJSTA and currently teaches preschool through grade four science. Jackie is the current NJSTA president-elect and a K-12 science supervisor. Session 2 on January 28, 2026 Crosscutting Concepts: Energy & Matter This session will explore the crosscutting concept of energy & matter, focusing on unique ways to make these ideas explicit across the scientific disciplines. Presented by Dr. Joy Barnes Johnson. Dr. Johnson is the current Head of STEM at a charter school in Trenton, NJ. She previously taught high school Chemistry. Session 3 on February 25, 2026 Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns This session will explore the crosscutting concept of patterns and how an exploration of patterns can support data literacy in the classroom. Presented by Kristin Hunter-Thomson. Kristin is the Director and Founder of Dataspire Education and Evaluation. She facilitates professional learning experiences for teachers to better facilitate the development of data literacy in the classroom. Session 4 on March 28, 2026 Crosscutting Concepts: Systems and System Models This session will explore the crosscutting concept of systems and system models. Presented by Kate Miller. Kate is a Research Associate at The Concord Consortium who is focused on building tools for students and teachers to build data literacy. |
