Michael Padilla
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia and Clemson University
Biography
Michael J. Padilla has taught science at middle and secondary school, has expertise in middle school teacher education
and has served as one of the writers of the US National Science Education Standards, released in 1996. He has
extensive leadership experience, having served as PI on numerous NSF and US Department of Education grants for a total
of over $35 million in funding. In recent years he has focused on the issue of English Language Learners as the Director
of the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education. He served as president of the National Science Teachers
Association, the world’s largest science teaching organisation, in 2005-6. Padilla was the lead author of the Prentice
Hall middle grades science programme, Science Explorer, and is an author of Pearson’s Interactive Science and Elevate Science
K-8 programmes.