Karen Mesmer, PhD, taught middle and high school science for 33 years in both northwest Alaska and in Baraboo, Wisconsin. After she retired in 2015, she started Mesmer Science Education Consulting, working as a curriculum writer, reviewer, mentor and professional development facilitator focusing on the Next Generation Science Standards. She has been active at the local, state and national levels in professional organizations, including serving as the President of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association and on the board of both the National Science Teachers Association and the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers. Karen was a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and the Ron Gibbs Award from the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers for Lifetime Contributions to Science Education in Wisconsin. She is also the lead author of the upcoming Answers to Your Biggest Questions about Teaching Secondary Science (pub. date January 15, 2024).