Sept. 15, 2004
NASA Partners With Teacher Network For School Year
Students can experience learning in a whole new light this school year with NASA's Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers (NEAT).
Educators from 39 states are bringing an "out-of-this world" experience into the nation's classrooms. These exemplary educators were in the top tier of applicants for the Educator Astronaut Program, launched in January 2003. They will showcase space and science to their students and communities, expose them to various career possibilities and activities related to the Vision for Space Exploration.
The Vision calls for NASA to finish building the International Space Station, develop a new space vehicle to replace the Space Shuttle, return to the moon, eventually send astronauts to Mars and worlds beyond.
More than 1600 applications were received for NASA's Educator Astronaut Program. A team of experts reviewed the applications and selected the top 197 for evaluation by the Astronaut Selection Board. Three of the 197 were selected as Educator Astronauts May 6.
The remaining 194 educators are part of the special group called NEAT. The program allows them to continue their involvement in the VSE by conducting workshops and informational briefings in their local schools, using NASA's resources.
"The NEAT teachers provide a powerful complement to the Educator Astronauts. They will provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the NASA network with schools across the country," said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, NASA's Chief Education Officer. "It is expected the content areas of science, math, technology and engineering will be improved in the schools where the NEAT teachers become involved."
NASA is providing NEAT members a series of workshops and networking activities. During their first workshop, over the summer at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, NEAT participants had briefings, tours, and exchanged innovative teaching techniques.
Sessions also provided them with knowledge about NASA resources, missions, special access to facilities and personnel, strategies for using NASA content in the classroom, components of astronaut training, and agency education activities.
NEAT program schools and their locations are listed on the Internet at:
For information about NASA education programs on the Internet, visit:
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:
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