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• 2026 Phillips 66 Energy Workshop for Teachers, Oct 15, 2026

  • When
    Thursday, October 15, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery Emergency Response Center, 3901 Unick Road, Ferndale, WA 98248

                                     

  2026 Phillips 66 Energy Workshop for Teachers

  October 15, 2026

  Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery

  Emergency Response Center

  3901 Unick Road

  Ferndale, WA 98248

  Do not Sign Up On WSTA Website: See Registration Below

  For The Attendees:

  • It’s FREE

  • Breakfast and lunch provided.

  • Substitute Reimbursement

  • A NEED Science of Energy Kit

  • State standard aligned curriculum.

  • Free STEM clock hours provided

  Who Should Attend?

  • 4^th – 12^th Grade Science Teachers

  • CTE Teachers

  • Math Teachers

  • Social Science Teachers

  • Afterschool program leaders

  How Can You Attend?

  Register Today! Don’t Wait! Go to 

  https://needorg.my.salesforce sites.com/event/home/p66101526wa and complete your registration!

  
  

  Questions:

  Contact Wendi Moss at wmoss@need.org or call 1-800-875-5029

  About the National Energy  Education Development Project: The NEED Project designs and delivers teacher- tested educational materials, evaluation techniques and tools, recognition of student achievement, and professional development for educators. NEED materials and training programs provide comprehensive, objective information about the scientific concepts of energy and the sources of energy – their use and their impact on the environment, the economy and society.

  About the Sponsor Phillips 66: Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. 

  To learn more about Phillips 66 visit  www.phillips66.com

     

  
  

  
  

  
  

  October 15, 2026

  Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery

  Emergency Response Center

  3901 Unick Road

  Ferndale, WA 98248

  Agenda

  8:30 a.m. Registration, Sign-in, Continental Breakfast, and Pre-Survey

  9:00 a.m. Welcome to the Workshop! 

  9:15 a.m. The Science of Energy

  Learn more about the forms of energy and energy transformations while experimenting with the  Science of Energy kit. 

  10:30 a.m. Energy Enigma 

  11:30 a.m. Oil and Natural Gas 101

  11:45 a.m. Phillips 66 Speaker and Q & A 

  12:00 p.m. Lunch

  12:45 p.m. Exploring Oil and Natural Gas

  Learn about exploration, production, refining, chemical manufacturing, transportation, marketing, and  uses of petroleum, natural gas, and their products in the industrial sector.

  • Pipeline Push

  • Refining Maze

  • Petroleum Ponder

  1:15 p.m. Oil & Gas Career Roundup

  2:00 p.m. Efficiency and Conservation Bingo

  2:30 p.m. Explore NEED Resources: About the NEED Website, Curriculum Packet and Student Engagement Opportunities

  2:45 p.m. Post-Survey, Q&A, Kit Selection, and Evaluation

  3:00 p.m. Adjourn

  
  

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• WSTA Presents Bite-Size PL - Problems of Practice with WSTA

  • Start
    Thursday, October 15, 2026
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, May 06, 2027
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  
  

  WSTA Presents: Bite-Size PL- Problems of Practice in Education with WSTA

  October 15, 2026, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, In Zoom

  February 4, 2027, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, In Zoom

  May 6, 2027, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, In Zoom

  Clock Hours Available

  A Quarterly Series

  WSTA Members Only: Sign Up Here For Membership

  Sign up at WSTA Events

  Clock Hours Available

  To prepare for this session and subsequent sessions, please fill out this survey to get your ideas as soon as you can:

  Problems of Practice Survey:

   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3nWeke8yJbpjnt2vLbY3Lzyyk-ZO0KO-gkIbHqIKZVDN2AA/viewform?usp=header

  Join our WSTA Region 9 (ESD 114) Representative Marcia Garrett as she leads a discussion on problems of practice in education.  This is an interactive discussion with teachers to solve educational issues. Please bring your problems of practice to the discussion and be ready to provide input on problems you would like to see addressed so the facilitators can research and focus on those issues and discuss solutions in a collaborative group setting.

  

  Marcia Garret, WSTA Region 9 Representative

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Take a Load Off!
  WSTA Presents Bite-Size Problems of Practice sessions to help you find a community of like-minded, inquiry science educators.  Trouble getting kids to speak up when student discourse is essential.  How can you REALLY assess what students got out of that lesson? Can you invite a sense of excitement into your classroom and still meet standards? Each one-hour monthly session will focus on one or more problems of practice that you bring to the group. We will use a protocol to share problems and explore solutions. The first Thursday of every month. One hour max. This series is for all teachers, from small and large districts. This series is sure to inspire hope.

  Register at the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) website under Event Calendar or at the following link: https://wsta.wildapricot.org/EventCalendar Clock hours are available for a fee.

  After you register, you will be sent a Zoom link to attend. To obtain clock hour information or questions, contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator at: wstaose@gmail.com.

  
  

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• WSTA Presents Bite-Size PL - Reading Like A Scientist: Leveraging the Science of Reading in Science Instruction

  • When
    Thursday, October 22, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  

  WSTA Presents: Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

  Reading Liike a Scienctist: Leveraging the Science of Reading in Science Instuction

  Clock Hours Available

  October 22, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, In Zoom

  Must be a WSTA Member. Join WSTA Here.

  Join Charity Horton, K-12 Program Supervisor for the Clover Park School District. Charity manages and supervises the use of core curriculum for K-12 English Language arts. Charity also designs and delivers professional learning for K-12, ELS and MLL.

  

  Charity Horton, K-12 Program Supervisor for the Clover Park School District spent 4 years as a Kindergarten teacher and 9 years as a K, 2^nd and 5^th grade teacher before working as an Instructional Coach and Mentor. She then spent 3 years as a K-8 ELA Program Specialist. She currently works as a K-12 Program Supervisor with the Clover Park School District. Her most recent professional training is Lexia Aspire Professional Learning, which is grounded in the science of reading.

  Join Charity as she shows how science classrooms can support literacy development while deepening students' understanding of scientific concepts. Join us for this one-hour Bite-Size Professional Learning session as we explore the connections between the Science of Reading and elementary science instruction. Learn practical strategies to help students read, think, talk, and write like scientists while building both language comprehension and scientific understanding.

  Session Highlights

  ·       Explore the role of reading in elementary science learning.

  ·       Connect Scarborough's Reading Rope to science instruction, with a focus on strengthening language comprehension through science-rich experiences.

  ·       Discover how science texts, vocabulary, and discussion routines support students' reading development.

  ·       Learn practical strategies for helping students navigate informational texts and make sense of complex scientific ideas.

  Register at the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) website under Event Calendar or at the following link: https://wsta.wildapricot.org/EventCalendar

  After you register, you will be sent a Zoom link to attend. To obtain clock hour information or questions, contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator at: puyalluppruett@gmail.com 

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• #WSTA26 Friday Events RSVP

  • When
    Friday, October 23, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham, WA
  • Spaces left
    54

  Register

  Let us know if you'll be joining us at any of the events on Friday. Across the day, we will bring you the opportunity to engage with life, earth, and physical science! You received a code to sign up for pre-events in an email (the one with LOTS of info) from WSTA on 10/2. If you can't find it, just email WSTACommunicationsTeam@gmail.com and we will help you. 

  There are no additional costs to the field experiences or the social and you can come to them a-la-carte. Knowing who is planning to attend helps us ensure we don't start without you and that we have enough food. Thanks!

  Here is the schedule for the afternoon and evening with the full descriptions below. 

  Time	Event
  1:00 pm	Outdoor Field Trip Begins
  1:00 pm	Fossils and Geology Field Trip Begins
  3:00 pm	Marine Life Center Tour Begins
  4:00 pm	All Field Trips End
  5:30 pm	Social at the SPARK Museum Begins
  7:30 pm	Social Ends

  Field Experiences:

  1:00 - 4:00 pm Outdoor Field Trip at Maritime Heritage Park (STEM Clock Hours)

  Join outdoor educators from local organizations to connect science with nature! We will venture along a creek, spending some time to showcase activities that incorporate habitat assessments, water quality testing, plant identification, and forming connections with nature. We'll even keep our eyes open for spawning salmon! Participants will have an opportunity to see nature-based activities geared toward various age levels that incorporate STEM and are accessible and inclusive. Participants will have access to supporting content they can utilize in greenspaces near schools or in their community. Please let us know if you have any questions or need anything else, and we're looking forward to this!

  • Meeting location: Maritime Heritage Park (meeting at the Salmon Woman Totem).
  • Total walking distance: 1-2 miles (we can take low-incline, wheelchair accessible pathways as needed)
  • Gear to bring: Close-toed shoes, water bottle, and raingear if needed

  1:00 - 4:00 pm Fossils and Geology at Racehorse Creek (STEM Clock Hours)

  Join us for a field experience at Racehorse Creek led by a Western Washington University geology professor, where we'll explore the remarkable geologic history of the North Cascades and discover one of Washington's richest fossil sites. Participants will learn how ancient marine fossils preserved in the area provide evidence that these mountains were once part of a vastly different landscape, offering a powerful window into Earth's past. This guided excursion is a unique opportunity to deepen your Earth science content knowledge while making connections to place-based teaching and three-dimensional learning. Trip includes approximately 45 minutes of travel each way, (we will have vans to take participants) along with time outdoors exploring the site.

  • Meeting location: TBD - Downtown Bellingham to catch vans to location. 
  • Total walking distance: Variable, not a hike but exploring the creekbed. 
  • Gear to bring: Close-toed shoes, water bottle, and raingear if needed

  3:00 - 4:00 Tour the Marine Life Center

  Please join us for a one-hour visit at the Marine Life Center to discover the facility, explore local marine life and learn about our educational programming! The experience will include time to explore the Marine Life Center, followed by a harbor walk around Squalicum Harbor to experience the local marine environment firsthand. Attendees will learn about opportunities to connect students with marine science and the unique environment of our local waters.

  Meeting location: 1801 Roeder Ave Ste 100, Bellingham, WA 98225

  5:30 - 7:30 pm Social at SPARK Musuem of Electrical Innovation

  Join us for an electrifying social at the lovely SPARK museum. Network with your fellow science educators, take in the MEGAZapper electricity show, enjoy some victuals, and tour the museum! Heavy apps and beverages will be served. Don't hesitate to come if you don't yet know anyone else, our board members and attendees always make new friends at this event. 

  
  

  Show details
• #WSTA26 Conference on Science Education

  • When
    Saturday, October 24, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham, WA

  Register

  Register for Washington State's Only Science Education Conference!

  
  

  October 24, 2026

  Bellingham, WA

  Join us for exciting presentations, field trips, social gatherings, amazing featured speaker, STEM clock hours, prizes, vendors, and great learning about science and environmental education. We will have pre-events scheduled on the Friday night preceding the conference. More information coming soon! 

  We have many different ticket options and a special deal for districts who can send 5 or more of their teachers or >50% of their science teachers from a single school. If you're interested in the district deal, you can read more here and/or email WSTACommunicationsTeam@gmail.com to ask questions or get started on registering teachers!

  New and preservice teachers can get a deeply discounted rate and a free membership to WSTA! Email WSTACommunicationsTeam@gmail.com to get the code to register. 

  Head over to our conference page for updates including events, schedules, list of vendors, and more!

  General questions? Contact our conference team!

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• Exhibitor Registration: 2026 Washington State Conference on Science Education

  • When
    Saturday, October 24, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham, WA
  • Registered
    25 registrants

  Register

  
  

  Exhibitor Registration for 

  Washington State's Only Science and Environmental Education Conference!

  October 24, 2026

  Bellingham, WA

  
  

  The Washington Science Teachers’ Association (WSTA) and Washington's Professional Association for Environmental Educators (E3 Washington) invite you to join us as an exhibitor at our annual conference this fall in Bellingham, WA. We are committed to providing you with an outstanding conference experience including a lively exhibition hall amidst the conference lunch, keynote, and check-ins. 

  
  

  Note that the gold package includes one presentation. All other exhibitor presentations will need to be submitted through our application process and are due on 6/5/2026. You can submit them here. 

  
  

  If you have any questions or want to talk about any additional options for supporting the conference don't hesitate to reach out!

  
  

  Learn more about our conference on our website!

  
  

  Available Packages

  Cu (Copper) Package Non-Profits Only $350	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides
  Ag (Silver) Package $600	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides
  Au (Gold) Package  $800	1 8' Table 2 Registrations Included Acknowledgement w/ Logo in Schedule Acknowledgement w/ Logo on Website Logo on Keynote Slides *First Pick of Table Location (in chronological order of registration) *1 Session of Exhibitor's Choice

  Dates and Deadlines

  10/3	Exhibitor Registration Closes
  10/10	Last day to make registration changes.
  10/24	7:00 am Exhibit Hall Open for Set-Up 8:00 am Conference Begins 5:00 pm Conference Ends 6:00 pm Exhibits Must be Torn Down

  Show details
• WSTA Presents "Field Notes" Book Study with Ayla Wilk

  • Start
    Thursday, October 29, 2026
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, August 12, 2027
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    26

  Register

  

  
  

  WSTA Presents "Field Notes" Book Study

  October 29, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  February 11, 2027, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  May 13, 2027, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  August 12, 2027, 4:00 -5:00 pm

  "Field Notes" Book Study

  With  Ayla Wilk

  Available to Members Only!

  Membership is $25 for a year of amazing science professional learning.

  Become a WSTA Member here. 

  Register Here: WSTA Event Calender

  • Join WSTA member and high school science teacher, Ayla Wilk in a quarterly book-club aimed at piquing your curiosity and stoking a sense of wonder while building your content knowledge and generating ideas for classroom connections!

  Session Highlights:

  In our new “Field Notes” series, participants will stay abreast of current scientific developments within and across their content area(s) through engaging non-fiction bestsellers.

  Our goal is to read four books per year, one focused on each major content area (life, physical, and earth/space sciences) and one profile of a historical or contemporary scientist from diverse backgrounds. At the end of each quarter, we will meet to discuss what amazed or intrigued us, and how we can share what we have learned with our students. Participants will then select the next book and be entered in a drawing to win a free copy!

  Our first book will be An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong. The first five participants to register will receive a FREE Kindle or Paperback copy of the book!  Register at the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) website under Event Calendar or at the following link:

  Presenter: Ayla Wilk

  Who Should Attend: All educators are invited! This includes K-12 teachers (Science, STEM, CTE), instructional coaches, TOSAs, principals, and district leaders.

  Registration Information: Please register via the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) Event Calendar. Link: WSTA-Washington Science Teachers Association - Events  A Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

  Clock Hours: For questions regarding clock hours, please contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator, at puyalluppruett@gmail.com.

  
  

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• WSTA Bite-Size PL- School AI: Teacher-monitored, Student-safe AI "Spaces" for Practice and Inquiry

  • When
    Thursday, November 19, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    38

  Register

  

  
  

  WSTA Bite-Size Science Professional Learning

  November 19, 2026, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Back By Popular Demand!

  School AI: Teacher-monitored, Student-safe AI "Spaces" for Practice and Inquiry

  By Al Gonzalez

  Available to Members Only!

  Membership is $25 for a year of amazing science professional learning.

  Become a WSTA Member here. 

  Register Here: WSTA Bite-Size PD

  • This is a repeat of Al's May 21, 2026 Session
    
    Artificial Intelligence:
    Al helps teachers use AI in ways that keep the teacher in control, protect students, and make classroom workflows lighter—without sacrificing rigor.

  Session Highlights:

  This session features an introduction to SchoolAI Spaces: teacher-built, interactive AI experiences where students can learn and explore within guidelines you set.School AI

  Participants will first enter a Space as students (10–15 minutes) for a math/science use case (e.g., phenomenon sensemaking coach, lab safety decision-maker, error-analysis tutor, vocabulary in context). Then I’ll model how to create that Space (15–20 minutes), including writing the AI prompt, selecting standards, and attaching resources like readings, rubrics, or worksheets.School AI

  The rest of the hour is build time: you’ll create a Space you can use next week, test it in preview, and refine it with guardrails (tone, boundaries, what to do when unsure, citation expectations, etc.). SchoolAI emphasizes being teacher-monitored, “student safe,” and designed to alert educators to critical safety concerns.SchoolAI

  Requirements:

  Participants will need a laptop. They will create a free educator account during the session and leave with one ready-to-run activity.

  Presenters:

  Al Gonzalez, Chimacum Elementary School, AI Educator

  Who Should Attend: All educators are invited! This includes K-12 teachers (Science, STEM, CTE), instructional coaches, TOSAs, principals, and district leaders.

  Registration Information: Please register via the Washington State Science Teachers (WSTA) Event Calendar. Link: WSTA-Washington Science Teachers Association - Events  A Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

  Clock Hours: For questions regarding clock hours, please contact Don Pruett, WSTA Professional Development Coordinator, at puyalluppruett@gmail.com.

  
  

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• 2026 Phillips 66 Energy Workshop for Teachers, Dec 2, 2026

  • When
    Wednesday, December 02, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2624 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA, 99216

  .                                   

  2026 Phillips 66 Energy Workshop for Teachers

  
  

  Date and Location:

  December 2, 2026

  CenterPlace Regional Event Center

  2624 N Discovery Place,

  Spokane Valley, WA, 99216

  
  

  For The Attendees:

  • It’s FREE

  • Breakfast and lunch provided.

  • Substitute Reimbursement

  • A NEED Science of Energy Kit

  • State standard aligned curriculum.

  • Free STEM clock hours provided

  Who Should Attend?

  • 4^th – 12^th Grade Science Teachers

  • CTE Teachers

  • Math Teachers

  • Social Science Teachers

  • Afterschool program leaders

  How Can You Attend?

  Don't sign up at WSTA website. Register Here Today! Don’t Wait! Go to 

  https://needorg.my.salesforce sites.com/event/home/p66120226wa

  and complete your registration!

  Questions;

  Contact Wendi Moss at wmoss@need.org or call 1-800-875-5029

  About the National Energy  Education Development Project:

  The NEED Project designs and delivers teacher-tested educational materials, evaluation techniques and tools, recognition of student achievement, and professional development for educators. NEED materials and training programs provide comprehensive, objective information about the scientific concepts of energy and the sources of energy – their use and their impact on the environment, the economy and society.

  ABOUT THE SPONSOR: Phillips 66

  Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally.

  To learn more about Phillips 66 visit www.phillips66.com

   

  
  

  December 2, 2026

  CenterPlace Regional Event Center

  2624 N Discovery Place

  Spokane Valley, WA 99216

  
  

  8:30 a.m. Registration, Sign-in, Continental Breakfast, and Pre-Survey

  9:00 a.m. Welcome to the Workshop! 

  9:15 a.m. The Science of Energy

  Learn more about the forms of energy and energy transformations while experimenting with the  Science of Energy kit. 

  10:30 a.m. Energy Enigma 

  11:30 a.m. Oil and Natural Gas 101

  11:45 a.m. Phillips 66 Speaker and Q & A 

  12:00 p.m. Lunch

  12:45 p.m. Exploring Oil and Natural Gas

  Learn about exploration, production, refining, chemical manufacturing, transportation, marketing, and  uses of petroleum, natural gas, and their products in the industrial sector.

  • Pipeline Push

  • Refining Maze

  • Petroleum Ponder

  1:15 p.m. Oil & Gas Career Roundup

  2:00 p.m. Efficiency and Conservation Bingo

  2:30 p.m. Explore NEED Resources: About the NEED Website, Curriculum Packet and Student  Engagement Opportunities

  2:45 p.m. Post-Survey, Q&A, Kit Selection, and Evaluation

  3:00 p.m. Adjourn

  
  

  Questions? Contact Wendi Moss at wmoss@need.org or 1-800-875-5029

  
  

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