Redmond Middle School teacher attends space academy program
Published 2:23 pm Monday, August 5, 2013
Redmond Middle School teacher and Bothell resident Carlene Dowling is one of 210 teachers from around the world who participated in the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy (HE@SA), starting in June in Huntsville, Ala.
Created in partnership with Honeywell Hometown Solutions (HHS) and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC), HE@SA is a five-day scholarship program in which middle school teachers participate in simulated astronaut training and professional development. The training provides them with new innovative teaching skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in fun and exciting ways.
“Inspiring students begins with inspiring teachers,” said Tom Buckmaster, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “HE@SA gives teachers an engaging and unforgettable learning experience that heightens their ability to become even more effective educators.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 15 of the 20 fastest growing occupations over the next 18 months require significant mathematics or science preparation.
“Honeywell is a world-class leader when it comes to educating teachers in STEM education and they’re proving it again. This is the 10th year Honeywell has sent teachers to USSRC,” said Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and executive director of USSRC. “These teachers, in turn, inspire tens of thousands of students around the world.”
Teachers, who came from 27 countries and 42 U.S. states and territories this year, trained like astronauts, learning skills and techniques to pique student interest in science and exploration. The teachers participate in 45 hours of professional development with laboratory and field activities aligned with global math and science teaching standards, including:
- A high-performance jet simulation
- Scenario-based space mission
- Land and water survival training
- Interactive flight dynamics programs
“No one puts it into better words than the teachers themselves who tell us this is the most incredible professional development program they’ve ever attended,” said Barnhart. “Thanks to Honeywell, that’s possible.”
To attend HE@SA, candidates must complete a thorough application process to ensure the most qualified teachers are selected. Once chosen, teachers are awarded scholarships, roundtrip airfare, tuition, meals and accommodations sponsored by Honeywell and its employees.
Since the program’s inception in 2004, Honeywell has awarded HE@SA scholarships to 1,756 teachers from more than 45 countries and 50 U.S. states.
For more information about the program, visit educators.honeywell.com.
