October 03, 2025

In this Issue:

• NABT Election Reminder: Ballots Due October 7
• What You'll See at NABT2025 in St. Louis
• Special Hotel Pricing Ends on October 7th
• NABT Members in the News: Chris Monsour Named Teacher of the Year
• Poster Judges Needed for NABT Conference in St. Louis
• Sponsor Spotlight: miniPCR: Making Science Accessible to Everyone, Everywhere
• Calling All 2-Year and 4-Year Attendees of the NABT Conference in St. Louis!
• ICYMI: NABT Webinar "Thriving As Educators" Available Online

NABT Election Reminder: Ballots Due October 7

NABT members still have time to vote for the 2026 NABT Board of Directors and Coordinators for Regions I, III, and VII. Ballots were sent for online voting via email. If you are a current member but have not received your ballot, please contact the NABT Office at membership@nabt.org.

NABT's volunteer leaders set the association's priorities, help design professional learning resources, and advocate to support teachers and students nationwide. You can learn more about this year's candidates at NABT 2025 Elections.

Voting takes only a few minutes, and your participation in the election ensures our leaders reflect diverse viewpoints and professional experiences, promote the mission and values of NABT, elevate underrepresented voices, and build communities of practice that sustain teachers throughout their careers. 

Help us empower educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students.

Ballots must be received by Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in order to be counted.

What You'll See at NABT in St. Louis

The 2025 NABT Professional Development Conference is only a few weeks away, and if you haven't used the 2025 Online Program to check out all the sessions, speakers, workshops, and events yet, you definitely should.

This year, the NABT Conference will feature nine special workshops on Thursday, October 30. These multi-hour workshops allow you to dive deep into specific topics, new models for teaching, and learn practical skills you can immediately apply in your classroom.

You can also spend time at one of the NABT tours at the St. Louis Aquarium. The aquarium is connected to the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, so you'll have plenty of time to see the very cute otter-cuddle-puddle and still make it to sessions.

From Friday, October 31, through Saturday, November 1, the conference will feature over 100 interactive workshops and sessions led by experienced educators and researchers. These sessions cover innovative teaching strategies, curriculum development, and the latest advancements in biology education.

Attendees can also look forward to keynote speakers who will share valuable insights about science education and communication, life science research, and education research. This year, NABT will be honoring Olympic Gold Medalist and STEAM Champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has been making a positive impact in the East St. Louis community for years, and we look forward to recognizing those efforts with the NABT Distinguished Service Award.

With approximately 600 educators from various educational levels, the NABT conference facilitates meaningful connections, where colleagues become forever friends. This year, all attendees are invited to pick up breakfast and then head to one of the NABT Section Meetings or the Exhibit Hall.

And don't forget about the NABT Science Disco & Halloween Party in the famous lobby of the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Everyone is welcome to join us on Friday, October 31, for food, drinks, costume contests, and more!!



Haven't registered yet? Registering online is easy, or you can use the 2025 Registration Form. NABT also offers discounts for group registrations in case you want to bring some bio buddies. Contact us at conference@nabt.org for details.

NABT Members in the News:

Chris Monsour Named Teacher of the Year

Please join us in congratulating Chris Monsour, NABT Past President and recently named Teacher of the Year for Ohio!

Everyone benefits when teachers are celebrated, and winning Teacher of the Year is one of the most prestigious honors that an educator can receive. This award recognizes exceptional teachers, highlighting their dedication, creativity, and profound impact on the lives of their students. In addition, these educators serve as ambassadors for the profession, bringing public attention to the resources needed to support and sustain quality education.

Being the 2026 Teacher of the Year is just the latest honor for Chris, who has been teaching biology at Tiffin Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio, for the past 26 years. Chris has received numerous awards for teaching, including the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) for Ohio (2005) and the Kim Foglia AP Service Award (2020) from NABT, and he received the Presidential Awards Program for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) for Ohio in 2013.

Chris will be the first to tell you he didn't plan on being a science teacher. After earning his BS in Biology from Heidelberg University, he planned to pursue a career in environmental biology. He became a substitute teacher soon after graduation, and lucky for his students (and us), Chris discovered a passion for teaching. He has since gotten a teaching license and earned two Master's degrees: a Master of Education from Heidelberg University and a Master of Science from Montana State University. 

His professional experience also includes serving as a consultant for AP Biology, teaching at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, teaching English as a Second Language at Tianjin Normal University in the People’s Republic of China, being a NOAA Teacher at Sea, and over 20 years of involvement and leadership in the National Association of Biology Teachers. During the summer break, Chris heads out for learning expeditions around the world, bringing his experiences to enhance his practice in the classroom.

Chris is a true inspiration (and friend) to his students and colleagues and is so deserving of this award. Congratulations once again to Chris Monsour for being named 2026 Teacher of Year!

Poster Judges Needed for

NABT Conference in St. Louis

miniPCR: Making Science Accessible to Everyone, Everywhere



At miniPCR bio we believe biotechnology should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we design intuitive tools that empower discovery, whether you’re in a classroom, a research lab, or even out in the field.


Join us at the NABT Conference for a full day of hands-on workshops. We'll cover topics such as sickle cell disease, inherited cancer risk, the central dogma, protein expression and purification, and authentic research projects to your classroom.



Complete this 1-minute survey to receive a free All-Access Pass for miniPCR Digital!

Calling All 2-Year and 4-Year Attendees of the

NABT Conference in St. Louis!

Join us for an opportunity to reflect on the NABT conference, meet other college biology instructors, and participate in a focus group on your teaching pedagogies.

This event will take place Sunday, November 2 from 9:00AM - 12:00PM on-site at the NABT Conference. Attendance will not interfere with any other scheduled activities other than potential business meetings.

Participants will receive brunch and a $50 Amazon gift card.

Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until October 17.

Learn more and sign up at https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81bkmbFkHW0GAbs

ICYMI: NABT Webinar "Thriving As Educators" Available Online

In August, NABT hosted science-teacher-turned-therapist and author Jess Cleeves, who led a discussion for the NABT community that explored how we can thrive realistically as educators in the current science education landscape.

In this 45-minute webinar, Jess defined, distinguished between, and offered concrete solutions to protect against burnout, demoralization, and exploitation from her book, Planning to Stay (previously reviewed in the ABT and currently discounted for NABT). She emphasized key characteristics that underscore how current classroom and community conditions may impact educators' lives, relationships, and well-being. The presentation was then followed by a brief Q&A.

Attendees came away with concrete strategies and micro-shifts for mega-increases in agency, well-being, and joyful resilience.

The recording of the webinar is available on the NABT YouTube Channel and you can download the slides at Thriving as Educators.