3 Cobb Science Teachers Chosen As NASA Ambassadors

COBB COUNTY, GA — Three Cobb Schools science teachers will join the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's group of Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs), according to a news release from Cobb Schools.

The 2021 class of the ambassadors group, organized by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, includes 30 educators from 10 states. The Cobb educators are the only ones selected from Georgia.

Here are the teachers chosen for the AAAs:

• Shannon Ventresca, East Cobb Middle School
• Tami McIntire, Palmer Middle School
• Dana Evans, Walton High School

These three educators will join the 2020 class of AAAs, as that group did not get to complete its mission as ambassadors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, three Cobb educators were also chosen: Doug LaVigne, Kell High School; Heather Guiendon, Walton High School; and Starrissa Winters, Wheeler High School.

The professional development program for science teachers is designed to improve science teaching and increase student learning and STEM engagement, according to the release. This year's expanded AAA program includes high school, middle school and community college teachers.

“Over its history, our NASA-funded AAA program has impacted tens of thousands of high school students through the immersive and inspirational experience of their teachers,” said Bill Diamond, CEO of the SETI Institute, in the release. “This powerful STEM program will allow the SETI Institute to help bring NASA science into classrooms across the country.”

AAA teachers receive training in astrophysics and planetary science, according to the release. Their training includes a weeklong Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) immersion experience at a NASA astronomy research facility, such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

“We are so excited to continue our partnership with SETI and NASA for cycle 9 of the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Program. The selection of Shannon, Tami, and Dana to fly on SOFIA is just more evidence of why Cobb is the best place to Teach, Lead and Learn,” Cobb Schools Science Supervisor Christian Cali, who joined Cobb’s 2019 NASA Ambassadors on part of their flight mission, said in the release.

After their training, the AAAs teach a physical science curriculum module connecting curriculum concepts to NASA- and SOFIA-enabled research, the release said. WestEd education consultants will then assess the affects of the specialized curriculum module on student STEM learning and engagement.

Past evaluations of the program have shown "statistically significant improvements" in performance and STEM engagement among students whose teachers participated in the program, according to the district's release.

“We are grateful that NASA will be funding the AAA program through 2025 and are especially excited to be adding middle school and community college teachers and their students,” said Dana Backman, AAA program lead, in the release. “These teachers will use their professional development and SOFIA experiences to convey real-world content to their students that illuminate the value of scientific research and the wide variety of STEM career paths available to them.”