I am not an astronaut, but I am a teacher who is extremely passionate about space exploration, which is the next best thing! I am a member of the regional SEEC crew, Tranquility, that represents the Midwest region of the United States. Each member of the crew teaches different age students in different school or informal education environments. Tranquility is part of a larger group, Space Exploration Educator Crew (SEEC). The name of our program is based on Astronaut Scott Kelly's year-long mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). We are extremely grateful for the continued support we have from Space Center Houston and generous donors that allow us to attend the Space Exploration Educators Conference.
I am an International Teacher Liaison Officer for the Space Foundation and a Limitless Space Institute (LSI) Limitless Educator. I am a proud Boilermaker (school of the astronauts) and Space Camp for Educators Alum. I earned a leadership certificate in STEM Education from the NASA Endeavor Project. I have a Masters of Science in Education Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in STEM Education.
How did this get started?
We met for the first time, February 2017 at the 23rd Annual Space Educator Exploration Conference (SEEC) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. I think everyone who has attended can agree that it is hands down the best Professional Development Opportunity for Educators. We were all accepted in the pilot program of the Educator Expedition Crew of 35 educators from across the country, split into 6 regional crews, who are embarking on a year in space curriculum. Our goal is to promote space education and share the resources we gather and create with as many teachers and students as possible.