HUNTSVILLE, AL, (NASA) – The nation’s top teachers are about to get an idea of what it’s like to live and work in space, thanks to NASA. Outstanding educators from the 50 states and beyond will be participating in a weeklong series of events in Huntsville, AL, next week, including International Space Camp.
From July 28-Aug. 3, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville will host
the nation’s Teachers of the Year and provide them with a
unique educational experience. Participating this year are 51
U.S. teachers — including National Teacher of the Year
Michelle Forman of Vermont — and 22 educators from other
countries.
While attending Space Camp, educators will participate in
simulated Space Shuttle and International Space Station
missions, train on a variety of astronaut simulators and
attend workshops to learn innovative hands-on techniques for
teaching students about NASA’s space program.
Educators also will attend a series of lectures and labs
provided by the University of Alabama in Huntsville, meet
members of the local aerospace community and tour Marshall —
NASA’s lead center for space transportation and manager of
all of the propulsion elements that carry the space shuttle
from launch to orbit. In addition to exploring new rocket
technology, Marshall also manages the science experiments
conducted on the space station.
“One of NASA’s primary goals is to spark the imaginations of
our young people and inspire them toward math, science and
engineering careers,” said Art Stephenson, Marshall Center
Director. “Supporting excellence in education through the
Teacher of the Year program is an effective way of
accomplishing that goal.” NASA is a long-time supporter of
the U.S. Space Camp programs.
“We are very excited that NASA is once again demonstrating
its ongoing commitment to excellence in education,” said
Larry Capps, the chief executive officer of the Space &
Rocket Center. “Educators are some of the world’s best
ambassadors for the space program and their participation
here will carry over to classrooms around the world.”
The Space & Rocket Center began International Space Camp in
1990, realizing that human space travel of the future would
not be solely a U.S. effort, but rather an international
undertaking. By including the U.S. Teachers of the Year in
the program, the expertise and voices of exemplary teachers
across the nation create informed advocates of space science
and exploration.
Teachers of the Year are selected by each state’s department
of education after reviewing nominations from local school
systems. The Teachers of the Year program dates back to 1953
and is the oldest and most prestigious awards program to
focus public attention on educator excellence.
