Call for Nominations available here! https://forms.gle/TtPRe4x8oNTiu3kA7
Please use this form to nominate individuals to the Saskatchewan Science Teachers Society Executive Committee. Please note, to be eligible for nomination, you must have been a member of the SSTS in the 2023/2024 school year.
President – Lindsay Shaw
Email: shaw.lindsay1978@gmail.com or lshaw@letstalkscience.ca
Role/School: Program Development Manager – Let’s Talk Science
Bio: I am currently the program development manager of professional learning with Let’s Talk Science. I have been in the role of planning and facilitating professional learning for educators over the past 5 years. Before moving to professional learning, I was a rural high school science and math teacher. While teaching, I was also involved in writing the renewed Biology 30 curriculum. In my free time, my family and I enjoy boating and skiing as well spending much of time taking my two daughters to dance and various other activities.
Vice-President – Amy Jamieson
School: Sun West Distance Learning Center
Email: amy.lafontaine@sunwestsd.ca
Bio:
Amy is currently teaching senior science at Kenaston School and the Sun West Distance Learning Center. She has been involved in writing the Health Science 20/21 and Forensic Science 20/30 curricula. Amy teaches because she enjoys sharing science with students and helping them understand the world. She wants students to be curious; critical thinkers who question how and why things work. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her two daughters, playing at the park and riding bikes, and growing vegetables.
Treasurer – Mick Rissling
School: Martin Collegiate
Email: mick.rissling@rbe.sk.ca
Bio: I have been teaching sciences with Regina Public Schools since 2005. Some of my involvement in the teaching profession has included membership in the Regina Regional Science Fair planning committee and Sciematics provincial conference planning committees in addition to the SSTS. I have done a lot of work in the internship program with the University of Regina and many presentations including at ASSIST and Sciematics. I have been on writing teams for curriculum and departmental exams, and many other workshops and professional development opportunities. My non-teaching interests include movies, cycling, and hobby board games.
Secretary – Patrick Kossman
School: Greenall High School
E-mail: patrick.kossmann@pvsd.ca
Bio:
I’ve been teaching science since September 2000. Over my career I have taught Physics 20, and 30, Science 10, 11 , and 18, and Physical and Science 20. Outside of science I have taught Arts Ed 9, Drama 10, 20, and 30, and Robotics 20 and 30 (which I wrote our division’s curricula for). I am looking forward to adding Forensic Science 30 to my course load next year.
I have been a member of the SSTS executive since 2004 taking over as editor and vice-president in 2008. I’m also responsible for running registration for the Prairie Valley Regional Science Fair; a job I have done since 2005. I was on the Canada Wide Science Fair 2017 planning committee as the PR and Media Liaison, and held a similar position with STEAM 2017. In 2011 I became a provincial outreach coordinator for the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. With this group I have traveled most of the province giving workshops on modern physics and our new physics curriculum. In addition to PI workshops I also present workshops on Vernier probe ware with Pomegranate Presentations.
Accelerator Editor – Kaitlyn Taylor (she/her)
School: Cowessess Community Educational Centre
E-mail: kaitlyn.taylor@cowessessfn.com
Bio:
Kaity is entering her 3rd year as a teacher at Cowessess Community Educational Centre on Cowessess First Nation in the beautiful Qu’Appelle Valley. This is her first year joining the SSTS Executive, and she’s very excited to be starting her role as the editor of the Accelerator. Kaity was born and raised in Kenaston, Saskatchewan and attended the University of Saskatchewan for her Bachelor’s of Education. She currently teaches high school maths and sciences, including Science 10, Biology 30, Physical Science 20, Forensic Science 20 and Chemistry 30. Outside of education, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. She has a passion for science education, and strives to make science accessible to all students regardless of where they attend school, and to grow that passion for science among her students.
Past President – Carla Cooper
School: Lumsden High School
E-mail: carla.cooper@pvsd.ca
Bio:
My name is Carla Cooper, currently I am a senior life science teacher in Lumsden, SK. In addition to teaching, for the past 10 years, I have been involved writing the health science 20 curriculum and am currently working towards my masters degree in Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction. My interests include working on the Prairie Valley Regional Science Fair as well as working on the 2017 Canada Wide Science Fair special events committee as well as STEAM 2017. I have presented numerous PD sessions for Prairie Valley School Division, Assist, STEM 2016, pilot teacher meetings as well as working alongside Patrick Kossman designing and presenting Vernier software to teachers from around the country. My non-teaching interests include participating in agility with my dogs, watching lacrosse and Rider games and spending time with my family.
Member-at-Large (& Social Media Manager) – Dakota DeCaux (she/her)
School: Dinsmore School
Email: dakotadecaux@msn.com
Bio:
Dakota de Caux is a white settler who was fortunate to be raised in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche on Treaty 8 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. She completed a B.Sc. Honours in Biology (2014) and B.Ed. in Secondary Education (2016) through the University of Saskatchewan before returning to her home community to teach for the first 4 years of her career. Dakota’s passion for life-long learning, anti-racist/anti-oppressive education, and dismantling colonial structures of education led her to pursue graduate studies in the Indigenous Land-based Education masters cohort at the University of Saskatchewan (2020).
Member-at-Large – Mark Edmonds
School/Role: Executive Director with Regina District Industry Education Council (RDIEC) at Campus Regina Public
Email: mark.edmonds@rdiec.ca
Phone: 1-306-523-3332 (work)
Bio:
Mark Edmonds is in his 30th year as an educator, and currently works for Prairie Valley school division as a coordinator. He resides in Regina, with his partner, Debbie, and their two grown children, Keegan and Tess. Mark has seventeen years experience within the classroom as a science educator, nine years as a science consultant with PVSD, and five years within the coordinator role. Involvement in science education has been his passion. He is especially fond of curriculum renewal, science fairs and project-based science, inquiry-based learning, global competencies (six C’s), and STEAM opportunities for students. Mark has also enjoyed his time on the SSTS executive as a Member at Large.
Member-at-Large (& Website Manager) – Logan Petlak (he/him)
School: Learning Department – Prairie South School Division
Email: petlak.logan@prairiesouth.ca
Webpage: loganpetlak.ca
Bio: Logan has spent about a decade as an educator, currently working as a learning consultant with Prairie South Schools and has been very fortunate to have been a part of the wonderful community of science educators at SSTS for most of his career. Logan was born, raised, and currently resides in Moose Jaw, SK, Treaty 4 Territory, with his spouse, Kristin, child, Kohen, and their glaring of cats. Logan has taught a variety of high school and middle years courses throughout his career but has spent most of his time teaching life sciences like environmental science, health science, biology, and AP Biology. Beyond his passion for his family and hobbies like hockey, football, and gaming, his passion in education revolves around scientific & digital literacy and their impact on society. Logan is also currently pursuing graduate studies to better understand and hopefully contribute to our collective understanding of scientific literacy.
University of Saskatchewan Liason – Tim Molnar
School: College of Education – U of S
Email: tim.molnar@usask.ca
University of Regina Liason – John Macdonald
School: University of Regina
Email: john.macdonald@uregina.ca
Bio: Currently a sessional at the University of Regina instructing science education classes for the faculty, SUNTEP and FNUC. I retired from the Regina Catholic Schools after thirty years teaching high school science. During those years I participated in the SSTS as member at large, accreditation seminars and co-chairperson of a Sciematics. Also, I was a pilot teacher for biology and on a prehistoric science 10 curriculum committee. During my final years of teaching I had the opportunity to be involved with AP biology. After retiring from teaching and coaching there still seemed to be a desire to do some science education type stuff. Thus I started to take graduate classes, graduating with a Master degree in 2005. Being involved with new science education is a constant enjoyment and helps keep one young, feeding off their enthusiasm and energy.
(Member at Large)— Dean Elliott
(Retired) Ministry of Education – Science Consultant
Former Ministry Liaison
