Each year, the Region VII Collaborative invites local science and mathematics teachers to attend workshops across the state. The workshops allow teachers to broaden their knowledge on many different subjects so that they may use what they learn to inspire their students. Five East Texas teachers have been attending these workshops with each other for years. In February 2007, they got together for the Space Station Educators Conference at Space Center Houston.
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The ladies were given NASA leis at the dinner party as they stand by Barbara Morgan, the first educator in space.
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Vanessa Downing, Sandy Dean, Ann Brogotti, Jan Johnson and Claire Hines show off their model rockets.
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From left, Sandy Dean, Ann Brogotti, Vanessa Downing and Claire Hines stand in a large human skull - part of an exhibit in the NASA space center.
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Vanessa Downing, Sandy Dean, Claire Hines, Jan Johnson and Ann Brogoitti spent three exciting days submersed into the world of space exploration. They attended workshops taught by scientists, engineers and astronauts, and collected exciting material to enhance their classrooms. They even spent some time in hands-on sessions designed to introduce potential lessons to use in the classroom as well.
One hands-on, interactive session they had a blast in was building and launching their own model rockets. They built their rockets, took them outside the Johnson Space Center and launched them. They were rocket scientists for a day!
Another event they really enjoyed was the banquet and dinner party. The dinner was a great time for the gals to mingle and share fun and exciting ideas with fellow teachers from all over the country. They met the commander and co-pilot of Space Shuttle Endeavor, and even shook hands with the first educator in space, Barbara Morgan. The party continued the rest of the night with the sounds of Max-Q, the astronaut band.
The ladies gained a lot from their trip into space, and they are looking forward to the next opportunity to travel to workshops together again!
