NASA Co-hosts National Teacher Education Conference

NASA and Norfolk State University (NSU) are hosting more than 600 future science and math teachers at the Mark Hotel, Alexandria, Va., Feb. 17-19. Participants will attend sessions with guest speakers and participate in interactive workshops with educators, scientists and researchers. Media are invited to participate.

NASA’s Langley Research Center’s Office of Education, Hampton, Va., and NSU’s School of Science and Technology are hosting the Pre-Service Teacher Conference celebrating a decade of serving historically black, Hispanic and tribal education institutions. Undergraduates, all aspiring teachers, are nominated to attend by faculty advisors. Recruiters from various school systems will interview prospective teachers during a career fair, and several universities will be recruiting potential graduate students.

NASA’s Chief Education Officer, Dr. Adena Loston, opens the conference, and Dr. Johnetta Cole, president of Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, N.C., gives the keynote address. Other speakers include Philadelphia school principal Salome Thomas-El; educator and author Harry Wong; Native American Ron His Horse is Thunder, president Sitting Bull College, N.D.; and Dr. Francisco Reveles, associate professor at California State University.

The conference is part of the Pre-Service Teacher Program (PSTP), eight two-week programs during the summer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston; Ames Research Center, Calif.; Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala.; Stennis Space Flight Center, Miss.; Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; and Langley. Sitting Bull and Sinte Gleska, S.D. colleges are also hosting two-week summer sessions. PSTP is a partnership between NASA and NSU.

For more information about the conference, visit: http://edu.larc.nasa.gov/pstp