Winners of the 5th Annual STEM Teacher of the Year Awards

The Museum of Aviation Foundation NASA Regional Educator Resource Center hosted the 7^th Annual GA NASA STEM Conference for teachers, on Saturday, August 26, in the Century of Flight Hangar.

The program included the 5^th Annual STEM Team of the Year Awards Presentation. Three teams of teachers who collaboratively use STEM in their school were recognized for excellence: From Northside Elementary School, the winners were Kolenda McDavis, Marla Garnto, Adrienne Bickel, and Keesha Carson. From Mossy Creek Middle School, the winners were Jennifer Ham, Jacob Harvey, Shannon Williams, Matthew Fortson, Robin Fobbus, and Justin Bennett. From Jasper County High School, the winners were Dr. Tyson Harty, Heather Huff, and Peyton Proctor.

Winners of Northside Elementary School, Mossy Creek Middle School, and Jasper County High School

Clare Swinford, Director NASA Regional Educator Resource Center, opened the event—welcoming all educators who were present. Chrissy Miner, the President and CEO of the Museum of Aviation Foundation, spoke about the mission of the Foundation and the importance of STEM Education. Charles R. Hunsaker, President of the National Defense Industrial Association of Georgia, delivered the opening remarks highlighting the Aerospace Industry in Georgia and the need for a strong STEM workforce. The Foundation’s Education Director, Melissa Spalding, presented the awards for the 2017 STEM Teachers of the year.

This event was a wonderful opportunity for educators to participate in a variety of STEM workshops and listen to speakers who are passionate about STEM fields. The workshops and presentations were designed for educators to infuse NASA STEM resources into the Pre-K through grade twelve classroom curricula.

The key supporters of the event were Georgia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Office of Education at Kennedy Space Center, Air Force STEM, National Defense Industrial Association, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and GEAR UP Bibb County.

The highlight of the event was Dr. June Scobee Rodgers as the keynote speaker. She is the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Richard “Dick” Scobee. She is an educator, author, speaker, and Founding Chairman of the Challenger Center—an honoring tribute to those who were lost in the tragedy. Rodgers received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and served on the President’s National Advisory Council on Education. She was presented the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, and wrote her book called Silver Linings: My Life Before and After Challenger 7.

June Scobee Rodgers signing copies of her book, Silver Linings: My Life Before and After Challenger 7