Francis Eberle

Throughout his career, Francis Eberle has served the education profession in many different capacities. He has served as the executive director of NSTA from 2008 to 2012. Prior to that, he was executive director of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA). Eberle taught middle and high school science, served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Southern Maine, founded and directed the STAR Science Center, and served as president of the Maine Science Teachers Association (MSTA). Additionally, he has served on several boards, advisory groups, and committees for a variety of state and national organizations, including the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC), the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE), and the Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC).

Eberle’s leadership activities also include co-authoring a series of books entitled, “Uncovering Student Ideas in Science,” and serving as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on six National Science Foundation (NSF) grants and two state Math and Science Partnership (MSP) projects. An NSTA member since 1976, Eberle has also contributed extensively to the association, having presented numerous sessions at regional and national conferences and publishing several articles in NSTA journals.

Eberle has also been recognized for his service to science education. He is a recipient of MSTA’s Philip Marcoux Memorial Award for outstanding service to science education and was recognized by the Maine Department of Education with its Alan M. Argondizza Award for outstanding service to elementary science education.

Eberle holds a doctorate in educational studies from Lesley University, a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut, and a bachelor’s degree in science education from Boston University.