CAPE CANAVERAL SPACEPORT — Seventeen Florida K-12 teachers began summer jobs this week under an FSRI-sponsored program aimed at exposing them to the needs of the state’s aerospace industry. The teachers will work full-time for seven weeks on projects involving space tourism, launch range operations, military and commercial aircraft development, airport operations, and aerospace education.
“What a great opportunity for our teachers to learn by doing,” said Larry Hughes, chairman of the Brevard County School Board. “The teachers will sharpen their skills and augment their income. The companies will have enthusiastic, skilled labor. And the students will be the ultimate beneficiaries with inspired, informed educators for the coming school year.” The summer job opportunities were organized under an FSRI partnership with the not-for-profit Summer Industrial Fellowship for Teachers (SIFT). A total of 20 summer jobs will be sponsored by FSRI in 2005 and 2006 as part of an aerospace workforce pilot project funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and Workforce Florida, Inc.
The host organizations are located in Escambia, Okaloosa, St. Johns, Volusia and Brevard Counties. They include AeroComp, Computer Sciences Raytheon, Eglin Air Force Base, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Space Authority, ITT Corp., NASA Kennedy Space Center, Northrop Grumman Corp., Pensacola Regional Airport, Space Adventures Ltd., United Space Alliance, and ZERO-G Corp. Near the end of their seven-week terms, the teachers will be required to submit plans for integrating their work experience into their classrooms. The teacher who submits the best plan will win a ride aboard ZERO-G Corp.’s G-Force One microgravity aircraft.
FSRI was established by Florida’s Governor and Legislature in 1999 to promote collaboration among academic institutions, industry, and federal agencies to support aerospace-related education, training, research and technology development.
Contact:
FSRI – Edward Ellegood, 321-452-2653, ext. 204
SIFT – Don Beck, 321-631-5051
