Ana26 Pre-Con Podcast: Finding Your Science Community

This episode of NSTA Voices is part of the NSTA Anaheim Pre-Conference Series.

Discover why NSTA Conferences are the ultimate "refilling station" for educators. Retiring NSTA president Dr. Alicia Conerly joins the podcast to discuss breaking down professional hierarchies and finding a safe space to celebrate the value of science education. From first-timer webinars to high-energy general sessions, learn how to navigate networking and turn "sit-and-get" professional development into an active, life-changing community. Whether you are a veteran leader or a nervous newcomer, this conversation proves that when scientific minds unite, they don't just teach - they move mountains.

Transcript

Andrew 0:00

Teresa, I don't even know how to introduce this guest because she is There is no introduction needed. Yeah, I totally agree. She's a powerhouse, not only in our world, but in the world of so many, and especially NSTA. So that being said, I am You're gonna introduce her anyway. No, I'm based off of our pre X episode conversation. I feel like you should be the one to introduce her.

Patrice 0:30

Me?

Andrew 0:30

Yeah.

Patrice 0:31

Okay. So um this human is one of the most exciting, gregarious, happy humans I have ever met. She is a past president and seriously, hopefully, someone that will be in our lives for a very long time. I would like to introduce Dr. Alicia Connolly.

Alicia 0:53

Thank you. Thank you. I'm gonna give you all a round of applause because I have so enjoy spending such great time with you all. And I'm so excited about being here with you again. And I'm excited about the things to come, whatever the future may hold. So I'm glad to be on.

Andrew 1:09

Thank you. You know, Alicia, if there's one thing I know about you, you understand what it takes to support and empower educators, but also you have a really good idea of what conferences can and should look like. We met you at the New Jersey Science Convention, and that was only probably one of a few things that you had been to that year. So but if I'm new, if I haven't gone to a conference before, I would want to talk to someone like you and say, Well, what do I expect? Why would I go to this? And what can I get out of it? What's in it for me and how will I help my students? Well, first of all, you're gonna have a lot of fun.

Alicia 1:51

Yeah, you are. That usually does not happen when you go to teacher conferences where you have to demand or command yourself to have fun, but you literally are going to have such a great time at our NSTA conference because it's like the coming together of the scientific minds and everything, like there is no failure in science. We always say that. Oh, that's just a reason to try again. So coming together of the scientific minds to just be able to explore what everyone is doing, being able to network, being able to see the fascinating things that are going on around the world, even in the times that we are experiencing, and just to have that opportunity to pour into others or get your own cup poured into, so that way you can have a refilling, a refreshing, a rejuvenization, a revitalization just to finish out your year, move into the summer and be ready for the next year. And that's why we just enjoy it because anyone from board members in the school system all the way down to those who are just starting out and they're just like really concerned about this teaching what I want to do. And and you get there and you're like, hey, if I have a team like this that's across the world, I can do this, I can stick with it. So we're excited about the fun. We're excited about the fun and the learning too, because we're gonna learn while having fun.

Andrew 3:13

That's the best kind. It is, it is any educational setting. You can feel like you're on an island for very much, but this sounds like it's a real pool of opportunity to find and connect with other people. It is, it is. You know what I was thinking of when you were saying that sometimes education conferences might not be the best or a lot of fun. I was thinking about there's a show called The English Teacher on Google, and they go to a conference and they're talking about like retirement and how you know how things have changed, and you it was like all like a sit and get. And my experience for NSDA is the complete opposite. They're gonna get you moving, they're gonna get you doing, and yes, they're gonna help you not only learn more about your own content and push the threshold for you, but also what I was hearing you talk about, which is so important, is taking care of your own social emotional wellness so that you can be better for others, so that you can be the educator that you always wanted to be. But sometimes you have to hit the pause button and look out for yourself. But they always tell you for if you're in an airplane that if when the masks drop, you got to put your own mask on first. Correct. That is correct. Then you can help others put on their mask. If you do it in the reverse order, you're not gonna be very helpful for very long.

Alicia 4:29

Not at all, not at all. And panic is not the way to live. Most people drown while being saved because of them panicking against that person trying to save them. So yeah. Yeah.

Patrice 4:41

I'm gonna let that one sink in.

Alicia 4:43

That was good. But it's something, Andrew, that you say that because right now, not to get into the wheeze of politics, but science, education, and science, careers, and all things science is really, really, truly under attack. And when you are trying to endeavor to be the best educator, the best leader, the best scientist, and pour that knowledge into the upcoming generation, and you have that generation saying, Why? Why should I go into the science? Why should I go into the STEM career field? Why should I even? Because right now it seems to me that we're not even relevant. And to have to dig deep within and be like, wait a minute. Do not allow others to determine your worth and your value. When you know your place in your true identity, when you know your own value and your own worth, whatever someone else says about you and it contradicts what you know about yourself, you can stand flat-footed and square your shoulders and stick your chest and say, hold on, you may not value me, but just know and understand that air that you're breathing in your lungs, without science, it wouldn't happen. Oh, and you probably need to go somewhere and they will help you to understand why you're not breathing properly, which will then take science again. Oh, driving down the road. Oh, you know that's science behind that. And then you walk off with a smile on your face because then you have left them with the understanding of I don't care what you may think, right? It's about what I know. And so right now, us in this science education, science leadership, wherever we are in it when we come to NSTA, it is us reminding each other of we are so valuable. Yeah, we are so worthy. Our worth is, they cannot pay us what we're worth with the knowledge and the things that we we have brought forth for everyone else in the world to be able to do and ultimately understand. And so, just in that, that so that social and emotional learning, it is definitely going to be a time to where we can actually breathe together in a safe space together, to where we're all understanding that people in the world may not value or know our worth, but when we get together as a unit, we will turn this on turn his mother out, you know.

Patrice 7:03

Yeah, we will. We will move mountains. How about that?

Andrew 7:07

Well, and you know, what I'm hearing you say is at least the thought that came to my mind was that silence is the enemy of progress, that if we just stay quiet about all that science is doing, and science is there in the quiet moments, and science is there in the loud moments. It's the consistent thing that is there for all of us. And it doesn't mean that we all have to be professional capital S scientists, but we all actually end up being scientists in some capacity, even if you kind of as a learner, you're like, I don't like science, I don't do science. You're still experiencing it. So us exposing them. Education is so powerful because you're changing the world, you're changing the layout of the world, and we will never know what the other part could have looked like because of the impact of educators. Great, great. And I love this. Get energized or bring the whole band together in this one spot so that you can be reminded of the importance of the work that you're doing and the impact doing that. The other thing I love about conferences is that hierarchies that might exist within a school or a district disappear when you're at a conference, and you could be talking as a classroom teacher, you could be sitting next to and talking to an administrator, and you could also be talking to a free service teacher, and everybody's at the table. And so it's almost like the knights of the round table. We're all welcome at this space and we're all having this conversation. Normal hierarchies might get in the way or prevent that conversation. That's all gone. You show up at the conference, you're an attendee.

Alicia 8:40

How can we learn from each other? Right. That is so correct. That's why we have our coffee chats. We we, as the presidential chain, we're very intentional that even when our schedules are as hectic as they are, we make an intentional effort to stop at our booth, to thank our exhibitors, thank our sponsors. We sit at those coffee chats and we talk with those teachers. We remind them that, hey, we may be on the presidential chain, but we are definitely not far removed from understanding the battles that you're facing. When you're able to sit in those spaces, that makes them ever the more encouraged to continue to come to the conference, as well as bring others. They're like, hey, yeah, we may go to those other ones and you can actually determine and know who's how that hierarchy is because they're in their own little silos, they're at their own little tables, they're at their own little groups. But when you come to NSTA, you don't know until they get on the stage, like, hey, you're on the presidential train, or hey, you're the president, or hey, you were just talking. And those are always those are great conversations to have, especially those first timers or those who really aren't in the know of who is in the higher part of leadership. And they'd be like, You are talking to me. And I was like, Yeah, why not? In my last conference, I took time out to meet with a teacher who had brought her high school son. He was thinking it was punishment because he really didn't want to come with mama. But when he sat out and he talked with me later on, he found me. He found me and said, Hey, I enjoyed your first time recession. I didn't even want to be here when my mama made me come. But you made me feel like I was even important in the room and I'm just I'm still in high school. I said, Because there are no big eyes and no little us, even when sometimes people try to make you feel like it. Please understand. No, no, we we need you because we need to know what's going on in the world. I tell my brothers, I said, I need to know what's going on in the world. I need to know what street I'm supposed to drive down, what street, I need to know what I'm supposed to be listening to, what I'm not supposed to be listening to. So when you understand, then you really know Andrew and Patricia how to advocate for them. Yeah. Sometimes when you're up the chain, you don't you think you know how to advocate for everyone, but until you talk to those who need advocating for, truly, you don't know.

Patrice 11:00

That's what's so impressive about the NSTA leadership, is that to your point, no one really knows, and not in a bad way. No one really knows that you're the past president or you're the president, no one really knows like your chain of command. So that you are able to, and I think that's one of the nice things about NSTA. You are able to be on the forefront of things that are happening because you are actually a part of the community. You're not leading only the community, but you're a part of the community. And I think that is super helpful for first-timers, for new people that are coming in, for veterans, whatever. It actually encourages, because the community is so welcoming, it encourages continued action, it encourages continued commitment to the NSTA itself. It encourages just the constant building up of everybody around them. Because as you've said already, it's not the easiest right now to be a teacher, period, let alone to be a science teacher.

Andrew 11:59

Great, great. You know, Dr. Alicia, I'm gonna make a statement that I think you're gonna agree with. Yeah. It's too bad this is not a video podcast because your faces say it all, but we're very different people. And why that's important is because Patrice will often say she'll think twice about going to a conference where she doesn't already know people who might be there, you know, because there might be comfort in knowing your group is there and you can connect. Where I'm of the opinion where I'm like, I'm super jazzed to go to this and I'll meet people, it will be fine, it'll it'll all work out. Yeah, and so my question is the similarity comes back together, is that I don't think either one of us actually look at the schedule until we're in the airport and we're like, so what are we doing? What does it look like? So, for any of our listeners that are tuned in right now and and hang on the edge of their seat for this long-winded question that I'm about to ask, what are some things that I can look forward to and connect with people right away? What does NSTA do for people like Patrice who don't want to feel alone? They can connect with people, or for me who I'm excited to meet new people, what does that look like when I first get there? Is there something happening or are the evening activities? What is NSTA's plan for helping us to connect with each other?

Alicia 13:13

Well, one of the first things that we're gonna do for all of our first timers, we're gonna have our virtual first timers conference session in March, late March, I think March 26th. So that way that gives first timers a chance. And even because it's a webinar, even if you're not a first timer, it gives even the veterans a chance just to see what things we have up and coming, as well as things that they can go ahead and prepare for. One of the easiest things is downloading the app and getting the, and we send out that email blast to our members and those that have registered to download the app, go ahead and review the app and see what may be like, oh ding, I want to go there or ding, hey, I like their presenter. I remember being at their other sessions. And also what I found is if at any time you're coming as a group within your district or within, even if it may be your friends, like I have friends, a science educator friends who are in different states. And so sometimes we'll converse like, hey, which one are you going to? What time are you flying in, first of all? And then there, what time are you flying out? And so which sessions can we meet up at? Do you know of anyone that is presenting that we should really go and sit in on their session? But just things like that. When you get there, it's like of a trifold. You have those that are first timers, you have those who are veterans in the game, and you have those that are in between, may haven't been in a while, or just coming to get away. And that's okay, okay, too. We understand. But when you get there, it's like when you begin to see all everyone in the general session, always it's the general sessions, as the young folks say, it is popping, and you just you begin to feel that energy, you have that energy of okay, we can do this. And once you go through, you hit those general sessions. And I know everyone looks forward to the ribbon cutting to get into the exhibit hall. I know that, and then they have to figure out how to fly all that stuff back that you've now won and gathered up, but even in that, just stopping and talking to those exhibitors, Andrew and Patrice. I have found I have engaged with so many new people because we're not all in sessions. We have now been synced or locked into a booth that either these people are trying to eat sell us a product or just showing us something, and now I've struck up a conversation. Hey Andrew, I see your badge. And Patrice, I see your badge. It's funny sometimes, guys, when I see people talking and they're actually two or three districts over from the other people. Those types of conversations when you're overhearing as a leader, how it took a big space to bring people who are already in similar small spaces together to say, hey, we should get to know each other. And so part of that is just the networking opportunities that NSTA presents to each and every individual. Whether you go into a session and there's only three people, the presenter be like, Hey, since there's only four of us, how about we all sit at the table and let's throw away the presentation and let's talk. And there, and you hear people coming out of those small sessions of, hey, we didn't even do the presentation. We talked. And I learned so much. And we're connecting on this. We're getting together for lunch. It's that camaraderie of light-minded, like I said, I can't say it enough, like-minded people, but in different areas and walks of the science life coming together and say, Hey, you may be a middle school teacher, and I'm getting ready to go into middle school and I've been in elementary all this time. Please help me. Right. And the first thing those middle school teachers say, Don't quit.

Patrice 16:47

Don't quit.

Alicia 16:49

That's so true.

Patrice 16:50

Let it let it breathe.

Alicia 16:52

So, in that, Andrew, is a thing to look forward to is your mind being as open as those you're about to come into contact with.

Andrew 17:03

Yeah, in so many ways, you get what you're looking for. Ultimately, Dr. Leisure, we're so grateful that you came onto this podcast. And he could be one of our many NSTA voices. Collectively, we are making a huge impact inside of the education. And I think the biggest takeaway for me from everything that you've shared is that you'll get from it whatever you put into it. So the first decision is deciding to go, and the second decision is deciding to be an active participant. And not everything may go the way you expect it to, but at least you put yourself out there and you tried.

Patrice 17:37

But it will probably go better than what you expected because it always does. Great. Agreed. And it's size that does not matter.

Andrew 17:47

Yeah, you can either prove or disprove your hypothesis. So for it to be a great experience, and then you can either prove or disprove that. It will be proven that it is, but you can prove or disprove it. So for all of our listeners, thank you for tuning in. We encourage you to share this podcast with others and to follow it so you can keep up on all of the latest NSTA Voices podcasts.

Patrice 18:09

Thank you, Dr. Connor Lee.

Alicia 18:11

Thank you. I appreciate you all once again and keep up the good work and giving a platform for science educators, no matter what part of the hierarchy level, they're on a voice and a time to be heard. And even if they're not understood when they are heard, at least a time to be heard. Because while parts of the world are trying to minimize our voices, you all offer us a platform to feel valued and understand our worth in this earth space.

Andrew 18:40

Thank you.