Time To AACT: Announcing The American Association Of Chemistry Teachers

In chemistry, as in other fields of study, the presence of a highly qualified teacher has been demonstrated to be the single most important factor affecting student outcomes.

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT), which complements existing initiatives to fulfill the American Chemical Society’s goal of providing the “most innovative, relevant, and effective chemistry education in the world” and underscores the contributions of K–12 teachers.

Launching under the auspices of ACS, AACT is the first and only national membership organization by and for K–12 teachers of chemistry. It offers specialized chemistry teaching resources such as lesson plans, demonstrations, and multimedia including animations to help students visualize complex chemical phenomena. Other benefits include a subscription to Chemistry Solutions, an ­online peer-reviewed journal about teaching chemistry in the K–12 classroom; a subscription to ChemMatters, the award-winning magazine that demystifies everyday chemistry; and professional development opportunities.

As a membership association, AACT also provides teachers with a community of peers that is the strongest form of support a professional can have. Through AACT, members can meet teachers of chemistry at all grade levels from around the U.S. and ask questions, share strategies, find support, and overcome challenges with the help of colleagues who have shared a similar experience.

In short, AACT will help teachers of chemistry share, connect, and succeed.

Why AACT Now?

The challenges facing the U.S. in science education are well documented. In the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 34% of students in fourth grade, 30% of students in eighth grade, and 21% of students in 12th grade were found to be “proficient” or better in science.

In addition, studies by the National Science Foundation show that the number of students enrolling in high school chemistry has increased by more than 10% in the past decade. Yet, according to the Department of Education, only 35% of high school chemistry teachers both have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and are certified to teach the subject.

Considering these trends together, we believe that supporting K–12 teachers of chemistry through a dedicated membership association is the most efficient and scalable solution. Complementing the work of the Society Committee on Education (SOCED), the Division of Chemical Education (DivCHED), and the ACS Education Division, AACT is designed to support new and experienced teachers of chemistry across the country.

We join our SOCED and DivCHED predecessors in endorsing AACT as a solution to long-standing challenges associated with engaging K–12 chemistry teachers, who impact students during formative periods in their scholastic development.

History

The creation of AACT is the result of extensive groundwork conducted over the past five years. In 2009, a Board-Presidential Task Force on Education was asked the question: What can the world’s largest scientific society uniquely do to transform U.S. science education? Among its recommendations was to explore the formation of a K–12 association of chemistry teachers.

This led to the creation of a joint task force convened by SOCED and DivCHED in 2011 to explore the potential of such an organization under the auspices of ACS. This, in turn, led to the creation of an advisory board appointed by SOCED and DivCHED in 2013 to guide the development of a framework for AACT. After much discussion, market research, and planning, AACT was approved by the ACS Board of Directors at the ACS national meeting in Indianapolis in September 2013.

Get Involved

AACT membership is separate from ACS membership but open to all with an interest in chemistry education. It is our hope that ACS members will sponsor AACT events, connect with AACT members, encourage interested members of the chemistry education community to join, and catalyze the growth of the AACT community by spreading the word on social media and in their local communities.

To learn more about how to get involved with AACT, including how you can join and how your local section can sponsor membership for teachers in your area, please visit teachchemistry.org.

Special Thanks

Many people contributed to the formation of AACT. Although we unfortunately cannot list them all, we would like to especially thank the following people who have been so instrumental in making AACT a reality: ACS Board of Directors member George M. Bodner; ACS Past-Presidents Thomas H. Lane and Catherine T. (Katie) Hunt; AACT advisory board chair and 2001 James Bryant Conant Award winner Barbara P. Sitzman; and chair of the joint SOCED and DivCHED task force that first explored the possibility of creating AACT, Susan C. Nurrenbern.