Comprised of a team of science educators from large urban areas and rural communities across the state of Texas, the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST) Steering Committee was formed in early 2020 as a means of bringing together individuals with different perspectives and unique experiences to design programming, select keynote and featured speakers and plan social, networking and field course events.
Leadership
Terry White | Chair
Fort Bend ISD
Dr. Melissa Gable | Recording Secretary
Crosby ISD
Workshops & Sessions
Laura Lee McLeod | Co-Chair
Frisco ISD
Dr. Karen Jacobs | Co-Chair
Alief ISD
Field Courses
Lisa Felske | Chair
Harris County Department of Education
Marketing
Jennifer Roberts | Co-Chair
Spring Branch ISD
Juliana Dominguez | Co-Chair
Spring Branch ISD
Hospitality
Charles Zemanek III | Chair
Nacogdoches ISD
Special Events
Katherine McCaffrey | Co-Chair
Klein ISD
Gelyn Roble | Co-Chair
Alief ISD
Volunteers
Patsy Magee | Chair
Beaumont ISD
Presentations
Donald Burken | Chair
Spring Branch ISD
Faced with the uncertainty of COVID-19, the Steering Committee had to think differently in terms of what this year's CAST would look like and how it would best meet the needs of science educators in Texas. Assessing the key elements that are important to CAST participants, committee members partnered with the staff of the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT) to pivot and redesign CAST in a way that would not have been possible with a face-to-face conference. The end result is CAST Reimagined 2020, a fully virtual, innovative event experience that is highly accessible, more affordable and just as exciting as ever.
