NSELA is pleased to feature Gold Level Partner, Vernier Science Education

Can you share a specific success story where your organization helped science education leaders overcome a challenge?

Ector County ISD partnered with Vernier to implement Vernier Connections® powered by Penda as a single, unified platform for digital instruction and hands-on investigation across grades 3–12 districtwide. Their Science in Action initiative went on to earn MASBA's 2026 Outstanding STEM Initiative award, with STAAR gains across every performance category in fifth-grade science, eighth-grade science, and Biology.

What strategies or resources have been most effective in supporting science education leaders through your programs or services?

Our most effective support combines practical resources with ongoing partnership. We help leaders align science instruction to district priorities through curriculum pacing support, tailored professional development, and hands-on investigations using Vernier probeware. With Vernier Connections powered by Penda, assessment insights and implementation check-ins help educators identify learning needs, adjust instruction, and sustain progress throughout the school year.

How does your organization define and measure the success of science education leadership?

Successful science education leadership creates the conditions for teachers to thrive and every student to engage in meaningful, hands-on science learning. We look for evidence in student growth, standards mastery, engagement, and teachers’ confidence using inquiry-based instruction. Success also means partnering with districts to use evidence to guide continuous improvement.

What innovative approaches has your organization taken to empower science education leaders in K-12 settings?

We connect hands-on science with digital tools that make student thinking visible. Vernier Connections powered by Penda combines phenomenon-based instruction, simulations, assessments, and integrated probeware investigations within one platform. Differentiation and language supports ensure every student can engage with rigorous content, while progress data helps leaders and teachers identify needs, target support, and make informed decisions.

How has your partnership with NSELA helped amplify your impact on science education leadership?

Our partnership helps us extend support beyond individual classrooms to a national community of science leaders. Through partner webinars, workshops, and the Vernier Emerging Science Education Leader Scholarship (VESELS), we help share practical strategies and support leadership development. These opportunities connect educators with peer expertise, mentoring, and actionable ideas for their school systems.

What advice would you give to district and state science supervisors looking to strengthen science education leadership in their schools?

Start with a shared vision for what meaningful science learning should look like in every classroom. Listen to teachers, invest in sustained professional learning, and protect time for collaboration and hands-on investigations. Use student work and assessment evidence to guide improvement. Develop teacher leaders, celebrate progress, and build partnerships that help effective practices spread.