The National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA) is proud to recognize Dr. Rebecca Hite as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Leadership in Science Education (OLISE) Award. Dr. Hite will receive a $1,000 award and plaque during the NSELA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA.

The OLISE Award honors science education leaders whose sustained contributions strengthen systems, expand access, and build leadership capacity in others. Dr. Hite exemplifies these qualities through a career that bridges classroom teaching, research, policy, and professional leadership, with impact at the state, national, and international levels. Dr. Hite brings more than two decades of experience as a middle school science teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and advocate for science educators. As a professor of science education, she has authored over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and practitioner publications focused on science teacher leadership, educational policy, technology integration, and equitable learning environments. Her scholarship is widely cited and used by science educators and leaders to inform instructional practice, leadership development, and decision-making at multiple levels.

A defining feature of Dr. Hite’s work is her commitment to elevating teacher voice in policy and leadership spaces. Her research examines how science teachers navigate educational policy, develop leadership identities, and advocate for their students and communities. Through this work, she has helped illuminate the ways teacher leaders influence reform efforts and contribute meaningfully to science education systems.

Dr. Hite is also deeply engaged in mentoring and leadership development. She has supported preservice teachers, graduate students, and early-career faculty through formal mentoring, research collaborations, and professional service. Many of those she has mentored now serve as science teacher leaders, faculty members, and contributors to professional organizations, extending the reach of her leadership well beyond her own institution.

In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Hite has held significant leadership roles within state and national science education organizations, served on editorial boards for major science education journals, and contributed to professional learning communities that connect researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Across these roles, she consistently advocates for inclusive, research-informed, and teacher-centered approaches to science education leadership. Dr. Rebecca Hite’s sustained impact, through research, mentorship, advocacy, and professional leadership, reflects the values at the heart of NSELA’s mission. Her work has strengthened science education systems, amplified educator voices, and supported the development of current and future science education leaders. NSELA is honored to recognize her as the 2026 Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award recipient.