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Bio

As an elementary school teacher, I earned both my Master’s degree in science education and my Ph.D. in science education with a research emphasis in environmental education from the University of Florida. After two years as an Assistant Professor at Auburn University, I was privileged to come to North Carolina State University in 2007 to help launch our STEM-focused Department of Elementary Education (ELM), beginning with the undergraduate program and then building both the Master and the Elementary Education in Mathematics and Science (EEMS) doctoral programs. I enjoy my work with both undergraduate and graduate science education students, and served for many years as the Graduate Program Coordinator for Elementary Education in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences. I recognize science as an important vehicle for global knowledge and unity, and I value my collaborations in regional, national, and international science education communities.

Research Description

My main research focus of environmental education includes learning about climate change and science instruction in the outdoors as a setting for teaching and learning, including schoolyard science. This work continues to examine strategies that contribute to elementary students’ environmental science knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and comfort in nature. I am a co-Principal Investigator for NSF-funded Supporting Elementary Teacher Learning for Effective School-Based Citizen Science (TL4CS). This exciting project is a rich collaboration of Horizon Research, Inc., NC State, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science and many wonderful teachers from across North Carolina.

Additional research interests include collaborations that support interdisciplinary connections of literacy and science that support teacher and children’s science communication. Another interesting research area examines the role of awe and wonder of science and science learning. My work with undergraduate pre-service teachers and graduate level in-service teachers explores their developing identities as science teachers as they learn effective strategies for sharing science content and practices with children.

I served as a co-Principal Investigator for NSF-funded Accomplished Teachers of Mathematics and Science (ATOMS) grant project. This longitudinal study examined elementary teachers’ development and practices as science teachers. Through this research, I explored teachers developing identities as teachers of science and examined their visions of effective science instruction. My work bridges formal and informal science education, building strong bases for life-long science learning.

Programs

• Undergraduate: Elementary Education
• Graduate: Elementary Education
• Concentration: Elementary Education in Mathematics and Science
• Science Education

Selected Scholarly Publications

Carrier, S.J., Scharen, D., Hayes, M., Smith, P.S., Craven, L., McGowan, J., Goforth, C., Bruce, A., Safley, S., Sachs, L. (2026) Incorporating citizen science in elementary schools: Teacher and student experiences with outdoor learning. Electronic Journal of Research for Science and Mathematics Education, (29)4, 81-101. 

Jones, M.G., Ward, R., Bordewieck, K., Ferdous, T., Stallard, M., Carrier, S.J., Manfra, M., Fiocca, S., Shaver, E., Meeks, A, Nieuwsma, J. (2025) Climate change visual representations in science lesson plans: Selection rationales and psychological distance. Environmental Education Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2025.2553173

Smith, P. S., Goforth, C., Carrier, S., Hayes, M. (2025). An emerging theory of school-based citizen science. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 10(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.755

Carrier, S.J., Scharen, D.R., Hayes, M., Sean, P.S., Bruce, A., Craven, L. (2024). Citizen science in elementary classrooms: A tale of two teachers. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1470070

Carrier, S.J., Minogue, J., Fraulo, A.B. (2024). Examining novice teachers’ developing teacher practices: planning for instruction and discourse. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2024.2378623

Fraulo, A.B., Carrier, S.J. & Busch, K.C. (2024). The making of an outdoor educator: A phenomenological mixed methods study of identity through voice and discourse. International Journal of Science Education Part B, 1-19.

Carrier, S.J., Sachs, L., McGowan, J., Hayes, M., Smith, P.S., Goforth, C., Safley, S. (2024). Elementary teachers as collaborators: Developing educative support materials for citizen science projects. International Journal of Science Education, 1-21. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KH4YUWKGQBIX34JVBTIQ/full?target=10.1080/09500693.2024.2311801

Carrier, S.J., Fraulo, A., Romeo, L., Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, M.N. (2023). Teachers as learners: Lessons about science, outdoors, and students. Electronic Journal of Research in Science and Mathematics Education, 27(2), 1-24. (6/2023)

Gibson, L., Busch, K.C., Stevenson, K., Cutts, B., DeMattia, E., Aguilar, A. Ardoin, N., Carrier, S.J., Clark, C., Cooper, C., Feinstein, N.W., Goodwin, J., Peterson, N., & Wheaton, N. (2022). What is community-level environmental literacy and how can we measure it? A report of a convening to conceptualize and operationalize CLEL. Environmental Researcher, 8(10), 1423-1451. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2067325

Kendall, C., Carrier, S.J., Folta, E., Tinka, J., Fraulo, A., Leeds, A., Lukas, K.E (2022). Can teacher-centered community-based conservation programs influence student household sustainable behaviors near a biodiversity hotspot. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(4), e12648. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/csp2.12648

Carrier, S.J., Grifenhagen, J.F., & Scharen, D.R. (2021). The language of science: Touch, talk, text. Science and Children, 59(2), 48-52.

Grifenhagen, J.F., Carrier, S.J., Scharen, D. & Fiocca, S. (2021). Strategies for building elementary students’ science content vocabulary. The Reading Teacher, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2033

Refvem, E., Jones, M.G., Rende, K., Carrier, S., Ennes, M. (2021). The next generation of science educators: Museum volunteers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 33(3), 326-343,

Stevenson, K.T., Szczytko, R., Carrier, S.J., & Peterson, M.N. (2021). How outdoor science education can help girls stay engaged with science. International Journal of Science Education, 43(7), 1090-1111.

Carrier, S.J., Grifenhagen, J.F., & Scharen, D. (2021). The language of science: Touch, talk, text. Science and Children, 59(2), 48-52.

Carrier, S.J., Jones, M.G., Ennes, M., Madden, L., Lee, T., Cayton, E., Chesnutt, K., Huff, P., Phillips, L., & Bellino, M. (2020). Stereotypes of scientists: Seeds of progress and recommendations for elementary teachers. Science Educator, 27(2), 1-7.

Carrier, S.J. & Grifenhagen, J.F. (2020). Academic vocabulary support for elementary science pre-service teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 31(2), 115-133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2019.1666631

Jones, M. G., Lee, T., Chesnutt, K., Carrier, S., Ennes, M., Cayton, E., Madden, L., & Huff, P. (2019). Enclothed cognition: Putting lab coats to the test. International Journal of Science Education, 41(14), 1962-1976. DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2019.1649504

Lawson, D., Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, M.N. Carrier, S.J., Strnad, R. Seekamp, E. (2019). Children can foster climate change concern among their parents. Nature Climate Change, 9(6), 458-462. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-463-3. Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, M.N., Carrier, S., Strnad, R.L., Olson, R. E., Szczytko, R. E. (2019). Making the case for a null effects framework in environmental education and K-12 academic outcomes: When ‘just as good’ is a great thing. Frontiers. DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2018.00059.

Lawson, D., Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, N., Carrier, S.J. (2018). Evaluating climate change behaviors and concern in the family context. Environmental Education Research, 25(5), 678-690. DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2018.1564248.

Thomson, M.M., & DiFrancesca, D., Carrier, S., Lee, C. &, Walkowiak, T. (2018). Changes in teaching efficacy beliefs among elementary preservice teachers from a STEM-focused program: Case study analysis. Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership, 2(1), 29-43.

Lawson, D., Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, M.N. Carrier, S.J., Strnad, R. Seekamp, E. (2018). Intergenerational Learning: Are children key in spurring climate action? Global Environmental Change, 53, 204-208.
DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.10.002.

Carrier, S.J. Whitehead, A.N., Minogue, J., & Kimble, R.S. (2018). Novice elementary teachers’ developing visions of effective science teaching. Research in Science Education, 1-25.
DOI: 10.1007/s11165-018-9742-7.

Szczytko, R., Carrier, S., & Stevenson, K.T. (2018). Impacts of outdoor environmental education on attention, behavior, and learning outcomes for students with emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. Frontiers. DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2018.00046. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2018.00046/full

Carrier, S.J., Hoyle, K.S., & Luginbuhl, S.C. (2017). Bringing informal science education to elementary preservice teacher preparation: Expanding the vision. Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership, 1(3), 32-37.

Carrier, S.J., Whitehead, A.N., Walkowiak, T.A., Luginbuhl, S.C., & Thomson, M.M. (2017). The development of elementary teacher identities as teachers of science. International Journal of Science Education, 39(13), 1733-1754. DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2017.1351648.

Sondel, B., Koch, J., Walkowiak, T., & Carrier, S. (2017). Toward a theory of teacher education for justice-oriented STEM. Catalysts, 7(1), 38-52. Adams, E. L., Carrier, S. J., Minogue, J., Porter, S. R, McEachin, A., Walkowiak, T. A., & Zulli, R.A. (2017). The development and validation of the Instructional Practices Log in Science (IPL-S). International Journal of Science Education, 39(3), 335-357.

Thomson, M.M., & DiFrancesca, D., Carrier, S., Lee, C. &, Walkowiak, T. (2016). Teaching efficacy: Exploring relationships between mathematics and science self-efficacy beliefs, PCK, and domain knowledge among pre-service teachers in the United States, Teacher Development, 21(1), 1-20. DOI: 10.1080/13664530.2016.1204355.

Book Chapters

Carrier, S. J. & Jones, M.G. (2021). Getting down and dirty. In S. (S. K.) Jeong, L. A. Bryan, D. J. Tippins, and C. M. Sexton (Eds.) Science classroom cases of elementary science teaching and learning – Cases of clsssroom practices and dilemmas (409-413). Springer.

Szczytko, R., Carrier, S., & Stevenson, K.T. (2019). Positive impacts of outdoor environmental education on attention, behavior, and learning outcomes for students with emotional, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. In Ming Kuo & Cathy Jordan (Eds.), The natural world as a resource for learning and development: From schoolyards to wilderness. Frontiers Media.

Carrier, S.J., & Stevenson, K.T. (2017). Children experiencing the outdoors: A natural setting for learning. In Eija Kimonen and Raimo Nevalainen (Eds.), Reframing school education: A comparative view. Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Sense Publishers.

Courses Taught

ECI 723 Informal Elementary SteM Education

ECI 709 Teacher Education Seminar

EMS 594/794 Informal Science

ELM 654 Inquiry Project

ELM 520 Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science

ELM 524 Issues in Elementary Science Education

ELM 539 Special Problems in Elementary Science Education

ELM 320 Teaching Science in the Primary Grades

ECI 296 Practicum in Teaching

ELM 250 Intro to Elementary Education in a Global Society

Editor

International Journal of Science Education – Editor

Journal of Science Teacher Education, Editorial Review Board

Services and Engagements

National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)

NARST External Policy and Relations committee member 2018-2021

NARST External Policy and Relations committee member 2012-2014

NARST Co-coordinator for Policy Strand 15 2008-2012

Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE)

ASTE Thread Coordinator

ASTE Position Statement Review Panel – Environmental and Sustainability 2021-2022

Ethnoscience and Environmental Education Strand Coordinator 2021-2022

Equity Committee member and liaison to Conference committee 2018-2020

Equity Committee member and liaison to Awards committee 2014-2016; NSF Review Boards; NC State Faculty Senate 2019-2022

NC State Faculty Senator 2019-2023

NC State Faculty Grievance Committee, Chair 2021-2023

Personnel Policy Committee 2019-2022; University Standing Committee Council on the Status of Women. 2020-2022

NC State Faculty Well Being Committee 2019-2022

NC State Mediation Committee 2018-2020

NC State Faculty Grievance (607) and Non-Reappointment Review (604) Committee 2016-2021

NC State Sustainability Committee 2016-2018

Area(s) of Expertise

Science education, Elementary School Science Education, Outdoor Education, Environmental Education, Climate Change Education, Elementary Education Teacher Preparation, Teacher Identities,