Juliana Texley, Ph.D., a passionate and tireless advocate for science education, has passed away. Over a career that stretched from Michigan biology classrooms to the national spotlight, she devoted her life to advancing scientific literacy, including her service as President of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) from 2014 to 2015.

Texley’s passion for education was rooted in the classroom. She began her career as a mathematics and science teacher at Richmond High School in Richmond, Michigan. Her influence on students soon expanded beyond the K-12 classroom, as she took on instructor positions at a variety of colleges, including Central Michigan University, helping to shape the next generation of educators.

While she served with distinction as Superintendent of Anchor Bay Schools from 1993 to 2000—guiding a rapidly growing district with clarity and purpose, a vision later recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives—it was her unwavering devotion to science education that most enduringly defined her legacy.

For over four decades, Texley was a guiding voice for science teachers across the country. She served for 12 years as the Editor of The Science Teacher, the NSTA’s peer-reviewed practitioner journal for secondary level and high school science educators, in which she curated the pedagogy and best practices that defined a decade of instruction. Her commitment to student welfare was best exemplified in her co-authorship of Inquiring Safely, a guide on laboratory safety.

In 2014, Texley was elected to the presidency of the NSTA. Under her presidential theme, "Catch the Wave," she led the association during an era of transition, championing the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and advocating for the integration of literacy and science. Throughout her career, she authored numerous articles and books, spearheaded the NSTA Recommends program, and served on numerous committees. In 2018, the NSTA honored her with the Distinguished Service to Science Teaching Award.

Beyond her professional accolades, Texley was a philanthropist committed to the future of her local community. In 1995, she was a founding donor of the Anchor Bay Community Foundation, helping to establish an endowment that continues to serve the region.

Texley leaves behind a legacy that will be seen in every modernized classroom in Anchor Bay and in the practice of thousands of science teachers nationwide who were guided by her words, her safety protocols, and her leadership. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary, and leaves behind two sons, Greg and Eric.

The mission of NSTA is to transform science education to benefit all through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy.