NC Space Grant announces the third annual cohort of the North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors (NCSEA) program. NC Space Grant expanded the number of ambassadors this year, with 16 teachers from 12 counties. The NCSEA program continues to build a statewide network of master teachers who deliver NASA educational content to their local students, schools, and communities.
“We are pleased to welcome our newest group of Space Education Ambassadors,” says Jobi Cook, the associate director of NC Space Grant. “These teachers offer a diverse range of creativity and demonstrate an eagerness to collaborate, which will make for a productive year. I am excited to witness their growth as they professionally develop and expand their network to include NASA leaders.”
The NCSEA program is offered in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NC Space Grant partners with NASA education specialists from various NASA centers, including Langley, to provide professional development seminars following NASA Next Gen STEM education themes. Ambassadors earn NASA digital badges as they participate and progress in professional development opportunities. The 2022 NCSEA educators have already begun collaborating to converge NASA materials with the NC Standard Course of Study to create lesson plans to match Next Gen STEM themes. Ambassadors will identify creative ways to impart resources to other educators in their schools, districts, and across the state over the academic year.
“I am most excited to share new lessons and research with my students and colleagues. Being on the cutting edge of such compelling innovation ignites an enthusiasm for the subject that is palpable,” says Julie Baile, a science teacher in Jacksonville and 2022 NCSEA ambassador., “Showing my students that I continue to grow and learn as an educator with NASA demonstrates that learning never stops. Hopefully, my colleagues will catch the excitement and utilize the lessons provided by NASA,” Baile added.
The ambassadors will take a trip to NASA Langley, a hallmark of the program that elicits anticipation and excitement. NCSEA teachers from the 2021 and 2020 cohorts will join the new ambassadors as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the trip for earlier groups. The teachers will tour the facilities and learn from NASA scientists, engineers, and education specialists in an intimate setting. This trip is scheduled for the Summer of 2023.
NCSEA teachers will have networking opportunities across multiple NASA centers and the chance to build relationships with NASA experts for further career support. The NCSEA program intends to help teachers feel confident, supported in the classroom, and better equipped to offer STEM experiences to their students, whether or not those experiences relate to NASA missions.
New Bridge Magnet Middle School
Jacksonville, NC 28540
Email: Michelle.padgett@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/newbridgems
Location: 401 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, NC, USA
Phone: (910)346-5144
Facebook: facebook.com/NewBridgeMiddleSchool