Karen Hollweg retired as the NRC’s Director of K-12 Science Education, responsible for the dissemination of the National Science Education Standards in 2002. She is now consulting on a variety of science and environmental education projects and leading professional development workshops on the use of ongoing classroom assessment to promote learning. As PI for NSF-funded Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE) projects, she led nationwide teacher enhancement, curriculum development, and community-based projects. Her work has focused on bringing together the resources and expertise of schools, community-based organizations, and higher education institutions to support teachers, students, scientists, and citizens of all ages in pursuing inquiry-based learning and addressing real-world issues.