Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez Science Education B.S., Northern Arizona University, 1965 M.A., Northern Arizona University, 1968 Ph.D., Kennedy-Western University, 1999

Jo Anne Vasquez has a B.S. degree in Biology, an M.S. degree in Early Childhood Education, and Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught all grade levels, and for 10 years was an associate professor of Science Education at Arizona State University. She retired from Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Arizona, where she was the lead curriculum developer and science specialist for Mesa's award winning elementary science program. She was Director of Professional Development, Policy, and Outreach at the Center for Research on Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology ( CRESMET) at Arizona State University. Presently Vasquez is Vice President and Program Director, Arizona Transition Years Teacher & Curriculum Initiatives for Helios Education Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Vasquez is the first K-12 teacher to be appointed to the National Science Board. Her distinguished service and extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education at the local, state, and national levels has won her numerous awards and honors including: National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 2004 honoree for contributions in improving education; National Science Teachers Association's highest award in science education, the 2006 "Robert H. Carlton Award," the "Distinguished Service to Science Education Award," the Search for Excellence in Elementary Science Education and Supervision; Chemicals, Health, Environment, and Me Teacher of the Year; Gustav Oahus Elementary Science Teaching Award; National Environmental Association's Teacher of the Year; and in 1997 the Northern Arizona University's Centennial Year of Science "Distinguished Alumni Award." In 1998, she was named Arizona'’s Outstanding Educator.

Vasquez is a member of the National Science Teachers Association, of which she has served on their National Board of Directors and was elected as their first Hispanic President. She is currently President-Elect of the National Science Education Leadership Association. She has served as Chair of the Elementary Science Teaching and Assessment Standards for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards; Executive Board Member for the National Academy of Science's Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education; Committee Chair and Reviewer for National Science Foundation; Board member for NASA's Classroom of the Future, National Resource Center's LASER Project, PBS's Science Land, WestEd, and National Academy of Science Leadership Mentoring Program. Vasquez has also served as President of the Arizona Science Teachers Association, the International Council of Science Education Organization, the National Council for Elementary Science Educators, and Sally Ride's TOYChallenge Advisory Board promoting science and engineering for all students.

Vasquez was appointed to the National Science Board in 2002.

July 2008