AISD’s Xandra Williams-Earlie Receives 2020 Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award

Disponible en:

Xandra Williams-Earlie

The Texas Science Education Leadership Association (TSELA) has named Xandra Williams-Earlie, Aldine ISD program director of high school science, as the Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award recipient.

This prestigious award recognizes and honors a TSELA member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in science education at the school, district, county, regional, or national level through their professional work.

The award, which included a $1,000-check and a plaque, was presented virtually during the TSELA meeting held at the Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST)/Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT) conference on November 3. STEMscopes sponsored the prize.

Donald Burken, director of K-12 science for Spring Branch ISD, nominated Williams-Earlie.

“I nominated Xandra for her dedication to our science community,” Burken said. “She contributes her time to further advancing science education by taking part in staff development, chairing TEA (Texas Education Agency) TEKS writing committees, providing testimony to the Texas State Board of Education, and volunteering yearly for STAT/CAST (Science Teachers Association of Texas/Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching). Xandra donates her time planning the Houston area science fair as well as working with area school districts to facilitate district-level fairs. Xandra has built a secondary science program second to none. She holds monthly think tanks to promote science within each high school course. Her model has been replicated around the city of Houston and even in the state.”

Williams-Earlie trains teachers and helps them better understand science content and ways to integrate science across the curriculum to provide students with optimal learning opportunities.

Burken also noted that Williams-Earlie maintains a long-working partnership with Chevron and JASON Learning. She helped his district launch its JASON Project with the energy company. Williams-Earlie has so far received $294 thousand in JASON Learning grants. Due to her commitment and dedication, Williams-Earlie won the Chevron Human Energy Award.

“Xandra’s vision for building a science-literate citizenry informs the strategies she has deployed to maximize ‘real’ science engagement and opportunities for students, educators, district leaders, and peers outside of her district,” said Eleanor Smalley, president and CEO of JASON Learning. “Her innovative and tenacious approach to building STEM literacy demonstrates a career-long commitment to excellence in science education.”

Williams-Earlie has served 42 years in the science education field. For 33 years, she has served as AISD’s high school science program director, influencing teachers, administrators, and Board Trustees concerning the science curriculum. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston-Downtown, where she shares her knowledge with aspiring science teachers.

A member of numerous organizations, Williams-Earlie is a past president of the Texas Science Education Leadership Association (TSELA) and the Metropolitan Association for Teachers of Science (MATS).

“For me, it’s not just about science. It is about all of the content working together thanks to a professional learning community that values a collaborative culture,” said Williams-Earlie. “I love working with teachers and seeing them get passionate about what they are teaching because it ignites excitement in students.”

Follow @AISD7_12Science on Twitter to see science learning occurring on campuses and how Aldine ISD teachers use the curriculum to build on students’ natural curiosity.