MOFFETT FIELD, Calif.- Today, NASA has announced the selection of Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School, Elk Grove, Calif., to join NASA’s Explorer Schools (NES) Program, a three-year partnership that uses NASA’s unique missions to inspire students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and geography.
The school will officially begin the program at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., will administer the partnership and help launch the program with presentations at each school at the beginning of the coming school year. The schools were among 25 schools selected for 2007. The announcement of the 2007 schools, can be seen on NASA TV’s Educational channel at 10 a.m. PDT. For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming video, visit:
“This program enables schools and their communities to partner with NASA to develop the nation’s future science, technology, engineering and mathematics work force,” said NES Program Manager Rob Lasalvia. “It is today’s students who will help make the nation’s vision of sending humans back to the moon, then on to Mars and beyond a reality.”
“The faculty and staff of Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School are elated and honored to be selected a NASA Explorer School,” said Felicia Bessent, principal at Edward Harris, Jr. “Being a NASA Explorer School will collaboratively enhance our students’, parents’, and community’s exposure to real-world science and technology applications. Additionally, teachers will be able to connect classroom instruction to real-life experiences.”
In preparation for the partnership, a team of educators and administrators from Edward Harris Middle School will attend an all-expense-paid, one-week professional development workshop July 16-20, 2007 at NASA Ames. The school team will develop a strategic plan to address its students’ needs in mathematics, science and technology education. Schools also may apply for technology grants of up to $17,500 over the three-year period to help implement their plans.
The NASA Explorer School Program began in 2003 in collaboration with the National Science Teachers Association and targets schools in grades 4-9. There are now 200 teams in the program, representing 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
This program continues NASA’s tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs. It is directly tied to the agency’s major education goal of attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. To compete effectively for the minds, imaginations and career ambitions of America’s young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of educational disciplines critical to NASA’s future engineering, scientific and technical missions.
For information about the NASA Explorer Schools Program, visit:
http://www.explorerschools.nasa.gov
For more information about, NASA Ames Research Center, visit:
