Mississippi Instructional Specialist Begins Term as 2024–2025 President of the National Science Teaching Association

On June 1, Dr. Alicia Conerly, Ed.D., Instructional Specialist for Mississippi’s Marion County School District, became the 2024–2025 President of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world seeking to transform science education to benefit all through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy.

Conerly taught elementary, middle school, and high school from 2008 to 2016. She then served as a science curriculum specialist and instructional coach from 2016 to 2018 for the Hazlehurst City School District in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. In 2018, she joined the staff of Monticello Elementary School in Monticello, Mississippi as assistant principal, and later became the school's principal. She was the school’s first African American administrator.

Conerly’s extensive educational background includes earning a Bachelor of Science degree in cytotechnology from University of Mississippi Medical Center; a Master of Education in the Art of Teaching from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; a Specialist of Educational Leadership degree from Arkansas State University; and STEM Certification from Mississippi College. She recently defended her dissertation and has obtained her Doctorate in Educational Leadership degree from William Carey University. In addition, she is certified as a Career Level Administrator and holds teaching certifications in Elementary Education (4–6), Biology (7–12), and General Sciences (7–12).

“I am the youngest elected NSTA President, the first from Mississippi, and only the fourth African American to hold this position. I desire to do my best to ensure that the diversity of our membership is represented at the highest level—not only the diversity we see, but also all that we can’t see,” said Conerly.

Among the many leadership and service positions she has held are on the Mississippi Department of Education Accountability Task Force, the NSTA Governance Revision Task Force, the NSTA Conference Advisory Board Committee, the NSTA Rural Science Advisory Board Committee, the NSTA Strategic Planning Committee, and the NSTA Budget Oversight Committee. She was a grant reviewer for the American Institutes for Research (AIR) Equity Initiative, was a National Board Certified Teachers Standards Convening Representative, and served as NSTA Multicultural/Equity in Science Education Division Director. In addition, Conerly has successfully written grants for thousands of dollars in funding, including 2022 and 2024 Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) $20,000 K–8 STEM Initiative Enhancement Project Grants and a 2019 MDE $150,000 Literacy Grant.

A frequent speaker and workshop presenter, Conerly was Belmont University’s Guest Speaker on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); North Carolina Science Leadership Association’s Keynote Presenter on DEI; the Mississippi Making Connections Conference’s presenter on DEI; and NSTA’s Social Justice in the Science Classroom, Creating a Foundational Definition of Social Justice in Science, and Engage21 Virtual Miniseries Keynote Speaker and Conference Presenter on DEI.

Her numerous awards and honors include a 2015 Shell Urban Science Educator Award, a 2016 Shell Science Lab Challenge Grand-Prize Award; and a 2017 Mississippi Science Teachers Association Outstanding Informal Science Educator Award. She has been chosen as a 2018, 2020, and 2022 School Choice Leadership recipient; as the 2020 District Administrator of the Year for Mississippi’s Lawrence County School District; as a 2021 Mississippi Third Congressional District Administrator of the Year finalist; and as the 2022 Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Administrator of the Year.

Conerly’s experience as a school principal and science curriculum specialist gives her “an important perspective. She’s so grounded in what is actually happening out in the classroom and out in the schools,” said Erika Shugart, Ph.D., CEO, NSTA. “Making sure we’ve connected with classroom teachers and encouraging African American scientists and educators to enter and stay in the profession is a passion of hers. I really appreciate her perspective.”

About NSTA

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high-quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators can grow professionally and excel in their careers. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit https://www.nsta.org/, or follow NSTA on X, formerly known as Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; and LinkedIn.

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Congratulations to Dr. Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. on the start of her term as #NSTA president! We look forward to seeing the innovative initiatives and positive impact her impressive educational background will bring to NSTA. #SciEd #STEMEd #STEM #Education