Professional development has long been identified as necessary for the successful
implementation of reform. “Professional development efforts should connect to classroom
practice, help teachers learn their content in new ways, challenge pedagogical beliefs and
practices, promote incremental change, provide for collaboration, and exist in a climate of
sustained support” (Guess-Newsome, 2001, p. 98). Often in spite of the demands of the present
era of accountability and its emphases on related testing programs, we must maintain the focus
on professional development to assure that the beginning science educator helps to
professionalize science teacher education. Professional development remains a necessary
prerequisite.