It’s Time for Science Podcast Episode 22
It’s Time for Science, and it’s time to discuss fostering safer, hands-on science environments! In this month’s podcast, Tom talks to safety expert Dr. Kenneth R. Roy (Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut) and 2025 Paul DeHart Hurd Award winner Kenneth L. Huff!
Dr. Kenneth R. Roy is currently the Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Glastonbury Public Schools (CT). He is the Chief Science Safety Compliance Adviser/Chief Safety Blogger for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the Safety Compliance Officer for the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA). He also serves as the manager and senior consultant for National Safety Consultants, LLC. Dr. Roy has published 13 recognized science and STEM laboratory safety books and manuals and authored over 850 safety articles in professional journals and associations covering safety education.
Dr. Roy has been actively involved with aspects of risk management and mitigation for decades and is often called on to be an expert witness in litigation cases, specializing in the area of legal liability in K-12 laboratories. His career in science and mathematics education has included teaching chemistry, physics & mathematics at the high school level, biology and general science at the college level, and central office administration as a K-12 science curriculum director. Dr. Roy has received numerous professional acknowledgment awards over the years for his outstanding work in the field of science education.
Tom talks with Dr. Roy about the importance of safety in the science classroom. The discussion moves on to the hazards present in a lab and how teachers can prepare for them. Teachers may not have been fully trained in safety by their credential programs and may need additional support. Safety seminars offered at NSTA can be beneficial as a preservice and cover the need for proper storage and disposal. Teachers can also be trained on ensuring the safety policies are recorded in writing for field trips and other outside time as well as surveying outside areas for any risks before bringing students outdoors. Preparation for any outside speakers to make their presentations safer is also recommended. Dr. Roy shares some stories, including how he became interested in safety and some of the experiences he has observed throughout the years.
NMLSTA 2025 Paul DeHart Hurd Award Winner Kenneth L. Huff has been a public-school science teacher for over 33 years and teaches in New York’s Williamsville Central School District. He is also a Teacher in Residence with Harvard University-LabXchange. Mr. Huff served two terms on the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Board of Directors as president of the Science Teachers Association of New York State and the Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching. He was a member of the writing team for the Next Generation Science Standards.
Mr. Huff has received the NSTA Distinguished Teaching Award, the National Science Education Leadership Association Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award, the State University of New York Buffalo State Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Mr. Huff is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr. Huff is the author of the book “Engaging Students in Science Investigation Using GRC: Science Instruction Consistent with the Framework and NGSS”. He has served the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in multiple capacities, including as Co-chair of the Teacher Advisory Council, on the Committee on Science Investigations and Engineering Design Experiences in Grades 6-12, and presently serves the NASEM on the Collaborative on Advancing Science Teaching and Learning in K-12. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher in Science/Early Adolescence.
Tom and Mr. Huff discuss his long career, how his interest in teaching began, and how his interest in space science helped him. They discuss his general approach to teaching, what inspires him, and how he engages students with science content. Mr. Huff shares how he engages students outside, including the SSSNOW project. He also offers tips for non-science-trained teachers on engaging students with science across disciplines. The discussion turns to his experience writing for the NGSS and the importance of all the different pieces that go into constructing the standards. Mr. Huff served as teacher in residence with Harvard University-LabXchange, and he points out the free resources they offer to teachers worldwide. The conversation concludes with the advice he’d give to young teachers.
Here are links to some of the resources Dr. Roy and Kenneth Huff discuss during the podcast:
This month, we’re offering a free download of the FOSS Safety Poster!
It’s Time for Science! To get in touch with us, whether to offer some feedback, ideas for future episodes or reviews, or just to say hi, send us a message at itstimeforscience@schoolspecialty.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Look for School Specialty and FOSS on X and Facebook. It’s Time for Science is produced by School Specialty® and the Full Option Science System™ (FOSS®) at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.
Leave a Reply