The following statement, approved by the Board of Directors, first appeared in the Summer 2016 ASTE newsletter and has since been posted on the ASTE website. The editors thought it would be also appropriate to include it as an editorial in the association's flagship journal, JSTE.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over the last few months, there have been many troubling events around the globe, with several of these disasters resulting in the loss of lives and loved ones. We know that members of our Association are impacted by these atrocities, directly, indirectly and vicariously. Collectively and individually, we must continue to function in a world that is constantly in flux, dealing with the good and the bad from nature and fellow humans. We are not isolated in our environs as we acknowledge the correlations and causations in daily lives.

As educators of science, we can relate to the idea that objects and organisms are interrelated and interdependent. When it comes to the work we do in our professional lives, the interconnectedness of humanity can be easily overlooked. However, for the teachers, students, administrators, parents, children and other stakeholders with whom we interact, we must think about how we make sense of sometimes senseless events. We can support others in seeing how science can help make sense of these events. But our work must not lose the humaneness in our mission to “advance[s] practice and policy through scholarship, collaboration, and innovation in science teacher education.” We are engaging youth and adults in science, which necessitates an awareness of the person. ASTE will continue to promote science teacher education as a profession that celebrates our global tethers, while working diligently to make the world a better place for all. As ASTE members, we can promote an understanding and appreciation for our colleagues and collaborators who are facing challenges that may be beyond our individual experiences. Dr. King’s aforementioned quote suggests such an awareness. We must seek out and take advantage of every opportunity to improve society through science, no matter how difficult or insurmountable the task may seem. Our elders and ancestors expect and deserve nothing less.

2016 ASTE Leadership Team

Board Members

Presidenta

Malcolm B. Butler

University of Central Florida

President Electa

Gillian Roehrig

University of Minnesota

Past Presidenta

Lisa Martin-Hansen

California State University, Long Beach

Senior Board Membera

Sherri Brown

University of Louisville

Senior Board Membera

Michael Clough

Iowa State University

At large Board Member

Gil Naizer

Texas A&M University-Commerce

At large Board Member

Meredith Park Rogers

Indiana University, Bloomington

At large Board Member

David Haury

The Ohio State University

At large Board Member

Debi Hanuscin

University of Missouri

Senior Regional Representativea

Vanessa Dodo Seriki

Loyola University

Regional Representative

Jessica Riccio

Columbia University

Regional Representative

Young-Shin Park

Chosun University (Korea)

NSTA Director of Preservice Teacher Education

Eric Pyle

James Madison University

  1. aMembership on the Executive Committee