President's Message

Welcome to NCSSSMST. We are now into our third decade of transforming mathematics, science, and technology education by creating a broad network of intellectual capital that drives our mission.

With our twentieth anniversary celebration at the NCSSSMST Professional Conference in February 2008, many of us were able to look backward and realize just how much good work we have undertaken since 1988 – summer institutes, student research symposia, professional and student research conferences, policy papers, diversity programs for middle school students, and an array of publications.

As much as we have accomplished in twenty years, I believe that NCSSSMST is only on the cusp of even more significant impact. From our inception as a network of fifteen like-minded and forward-thinking secondary schools, we have grown to over one hundred member institutions and an equal number of affiliate members, each of which has a stake and interest in our students and in our greater work. The growth in our membership and the array of programs we offer clearly suggest that the work of our organization extends well beyond our own classrooms and schools. Over the next decade, it is my hope that NCSSSMST will be at the forefront of STEM education – informing practice, recruiting students, and disseminating research on teaching and learning in math, science, and technology.

As you visit our member schools’ websites, browse our online publications and resources, and consider the NCSSSMST mission statement, you will realize that the strength of our organization is its willingness to engage bold ideas about mathematics and science education. For us to truly transform STEM teaching and learning, I invite you to take an active role in the transformative work of NCSSSMST. You might:

• Consider serving on the NCSSSMST Board of Directors;
• Offer your school as a host site for an NCSSSMST event, such as a Summer Institute or Student Research Conference;
• Contribute to the NCSSSMST Journal; or
• Coordinate a regional summer program for middle school students.

I urge the members of the NCSSSMST community – students, faculty, staff – to join our ambitious, mission-driven work.

I am pleased and privileged to serve as the NCSSSMST president, and I look forward to our collaboration.

Dr. Jerald (Jay) Thomas
NCSSSMST President