Scholarship Program Provides Effective Teaching Techniques for Science and Math
“Your teacher is one of the few teachers from all over the world to be selected to attend Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy!” Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School Principal Pat Floyd-Echols said as she stood in front of Pattie Burns’ fourth-grade class Friday morning.
Ms. Burns’ 28 students cheered and applauded their teacher, who was beaming with pride. Also on hand was Syracuse Deputy Mayor John Cowin who presented a proclamation from Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. The proclamation, which says Burns “inspires students every day,” declared Friday, May 28, 2010 as Ms. Pattie Burns Recognition Day in the city of Syracuse.
“It’s really great that Honeywell supports this,” said Syracuse School District Deputy Superintendent Christine Vogelsang. “The opportunity to blend some professional development for our teachers, especially in space exploration, is exciting to our kids. The international recognition that the city school district earns from the Honeywell program, coming at a time of decreasing school budgets, is a real boost,” she added.
“Kids really love it,” Burns said of all things related to outer space. “Any experiential stuff, they like it all. I can’t wait! This is going to be excellent. To meet a lot of new people, and I get to share that experience with the class.”
Honeywell announced last week that it is sending 220 teachers from 17 countries and 44 states to its Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy program, which is held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, from June 11–23, 2010.
In addition to Burns, Chittenango Middle School science teacher Beth Bennett and West Genesee Middle School math teacher Sue Bingham, were honored last week during separate ceremonies hailing their selection to the Space Academy program.
“We are fortunate to have such committed and inspiring teachers representing Central New York,” said Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Their enthusiasm to bring innovative teaching techniques back into classrooms will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and even astronauts.”
Created in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in 2004, the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy program is designed to help teachers move beyond the standard math and science curriculum with supplemental teaching techniques developed through real-life astronaut training. Through the program, Honeywell has trained more than 1,100 science and math teachers to become more engaging and inspiring educators.
Chittenango Middle School Principal Tom Piatti was not surprised that Bennett won a Honeywell scholarship.
“Anything out there, she brings to the school,” Piatti said. “She’s just amazing. Space Academy will enrich her curriculum and take it to another level. It’s already at a very high level.”
Honeywell Educators participate in 45 hours of professional development, as well as an intensive educator curriculum focused on space science and exploration. Activities include classroom, laboratory and field training exercises, which are linked to U.S. science and math teaching standards. Each teacher will also undergo real-life astronaut training including a high-performance jet simulation, scenario-based space missions, land and water survival training, and a state-of-the-art flight dynamics program.
Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative which focuses on areas of vital importance: Family Safety & Security; Housing & Shelter; Science & Math Education; Habitat & Conservation; and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information on Honeywell Hometown Solutions, visitwww.honeywell.com/hhs.