After a nationwide search for the most talented, motivated, and creative educators, NASA has selected 20 teachers to become the first class in the Airspace Systems Education Cohort (ASEC).
Assembled from the nation’s K-12 classrooms, the group of award-winning teachers will visit NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley Aug. 3-7 for hands-on training in aeronautics and space research during the ASEC Summer Institute. The selected teachers endured a rigorous and competitive selection process, involving nearly 100 applicants who were reviewed by a committee of NASA researchers, educators, and program managers.
During their visit, the teachers will tour a variety of airspace system facilities, including the Crew Vehicle System Research Facility, FutureFlight Central, and the Air Traffic Control Research Laboratories. They will hear presentations by NASA researchers and observe demonstrations of advanced research and technology related to airspace systems. They will also participate in a variety of hands-on workshops to become trained in the related NASA educational activities.
“We are excited to work with such a talented group of educators. They are both experienced and accomplished at bringing their passion for aeronautics and space science to their schools,” said Liza Coe, assistant chief of the Education Division at NASA Ames. “The 20 teachers represent an impressive array of skills, interests, and backgrounds that will serve NASA, their students and colleagues well as they return to their districts.”
The teachers selected for the ASEC are: Carisa Bryant, John P. Thomas Elementary School, Columbia, S.C.; Eugene Bush, Clay Hill Elementary School, Jacksonville, Fla.; Gary Dewey, North Shore Christian Middle School, Holland, Mich; Margaret Eddy, Reed Academy, Houston; William Gruner, Union Gap Middle School, Union Gap, Wash.; Gloria Hardrict-Ewing, Hazelwood School District, Florissant, Mo.; Valerie Hawkins, Deer Park Middle School, Randallstown, Md.; Deborah Huffman, Dekalb County School System, Atlanta, Ga.; Amy Krajnak, Kelleys Island School, Kelleys Islands, Ohio; Allissa Kuseske, Crossroads Elementary Science School, St. Paul, Minn.; Joy Martin,St. Mary’s Middle School, Fullerton, Calif.; James Nair, Mechanicville, N.Y.; Allan Miller, Sterling Elementary School, Sterling, Ark.; Warren Porter, Ohio County Elementary-Middle School, Rising Sun, Ind.; Stuart Sharack, Juliet Long School, Gales Ferry, Conn.; Jennifer Sinsel, Wichita Collegiate School, Wichita, Kan.; Vivian Smithwick, Stuart Middle Magnet School, Tampa, Fla.; Karie Trupka, Circle of Nations School, Wahpeton, N.D.; Pamela Vaughan, Fordyce High/ Fordyce Middle School, Fordyce, Ark.; and John Walsh, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park,N.Y.
The ASEC program uses a ‘train-the-trainer ‘ model of professional development to engage participants in scientific inquiry at the leading edge of education and technology. After attending tours, lectures and workshops at the ASEC Summer Institute, the teachers will return to their educational communities to train others in the use of NASA-developed classroom materials. These interactive, multimedia programs are developed for Airspace Systems by the NASA Ames Educational Technology Team and can be found at:
The ASEC was created at NASA Ames under the sponsorship of the Airspace Systems Program as part of its commitment to NASA’s mission to ‘inspire the next generation of explorers’ to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. The Airspace Systems Program is a division of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate located in Washington, D.C.
For additional information about ASEC visit:
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/asec/index.shtml
For more information about NASA’s Airspace Systems Program, visit:
Biographies and photographs of the selected teachers will be available at:
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/asec/index.shtml
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:
