John Whitsett is a WSN Key Leader. He currently teaches physics at Fond du Lac High School where he is currently the science department chair. Prior to the Fond du Lac School District, John was the Supervisor of Science and Math for the School District of La Crosse and taught chemistry at La Crosse Central High School for 23 years. John has been involved in teacher training and teacher enhancement projects at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse serving as the Co-Principle Investigator for four National Science Foundation funded programs. He also was the instructor for several graduate level courses at UW-L providing teacher training in laboratory methods, computer interfacing, lab safety, and curriculum design. John also served as a Facilitator for the High School Teacher component of Science World for eleven years. He is a WASDI V. Most recently he received mentor training through WASDI and was selected as a participant in the Research Experience for Teachers in the Engineering Physics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. John served on work committees and task forces for the Department of Public Instruction developing measurable learner outcomes, writing and field testing performance assessment items, reviewing the Wisconsin Student Assessment System testing program, developing the Wisconsin Curriculum Planning Guide, and the efforts in improving lab safety. He was on the Frameworks for Integrating Science and Math (FISM) project. John has been actively involved in the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers for more than twenty years serving as the president in 1991, serving on various committees, and chairing two conventions. Currently he is the president of the WSST Foundation.
At the national level, John has served as the NSTA District XII Director, served on the NSTA Board and Executive Committee as well as serving on the Nominations Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, and the Blue Ribbon Panel for State and National Collaborations. He will become president of NSTA in 2007-08. He was the local arrangements coordinator for the NSTA Regional Convention held in Milwaukee in October of 2000.