Tillotson named ASTE outstanding science educator of the year

Tillotson named ASTE outstanding science educator of the yearMay 02, 2006Patrick Farrellpmfarrel@syr.edu

John Tillotson, dual associate professor in science education in the School of Education and The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, has been named Outstanding Science Teacher Educator of the Year by the Association of Science Teacher Education (ASTE). Tillotson accepted the award, which included a plaque from ASTE and a $1,000 check from an ASTE corporate sponsor, at the annual ASTE Awards and Business Luncheon earlier this year in Portland, Ore.

The ASTE is a nonprofit professional organization composed of nearly 800 members from around the world. ASTE’s mission is to promote excellence in science teacher education through scholarship and innovation. The Outstanding Science Teacher Educator Award is designed to encourage leadership activity by recognizing the personal achievements and contributions of science teacher educators in their first 10 years as educators.

A dual associate professor of science education in the Teaching and Leadership Program and the Department of Science Teaching, Tillotson is the coordinator of the adolescence science teacher education program and directs the graduate program in science education. He teaches courses in methods of secondary science instruction, curriculum issues, teacher development and the nature of science.

Tillotson’s research focuses on the influence of pre-service teacher education programs on science teachers’ beliefs and practices, action research as a teacher development tool and the impact of educational reform on science education programs in high-needs rural school districts. He also is principal investigator on a $2.5 million National Science Foundation-sponsored IMPPACT Project to examine the longitudinal impact of pre-service and in-service professional development experiences on secondary science teachers across key stages of the career continuum.

A past director of the ASTE-Northeast region, Tillotson has served on numerous ASTE committees and currently is the executive director of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST).