Selection honors outstanding teacher who has brought innovative teaching and learning to his classroom
As he was about to start his earth science class this morning, West Genesee Middle School Teacher Rick Chapman entered his classroom and found some surprise guests — West Genesee Superintendent Chris Brown; Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan; Honeywell Program Director John McAuliffe; his wife, Michelle Chapman; and his parents, Boyd and Debbie Chapman. West Genesee Middle School Principal Earl Sanderson had invited the guests to celebrate the announcement that Rick was one of 24 educators from across the country selected to participate in Honeywell Educators @ Advanced Space Academy. In order to qualify for Advanced Space Academy applicants must be undergo a rigorous and competitive process. Chapman attended Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy in 2007.
“I am overwhelmed with excitement and appreciation,” said Chapman. “With the support of my family, Honeywell and the West Genesee School District, my students will continue to receive the best learning experience possible.”
To honor Chapman, Town of Camillus Supervisor Coogan read a proclamation commending his dedication to his students and his commitment to excellence.
“The Town Board, on behalf of all the residents of the Town of Camillus, does hereby acknowledge that Rick Chapman is to be commended for his dedication to his students and his commitment to excellence as a teacher in the State of New York,” read Coogan. “Mr. Chapman has shown exceptional commitment to teaching by bringing his real-life astronaut training and educational tools back to the West Genesee School District to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts.” Coogan also declared today as “Rick Chapman Day.”
Participants in Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy engage in unique activities such as astronaut training exercises including high performance jet simulation, scenario-based space missions, land and water survival training, and state-of-the-art flight dynamics programs. They receive 45 hours of professional development; an intensive curriculum focused on space science and exploration; and classroom, laboratory and field training that are linked to science and math teaching standards.
Since his return from the 2007 program, Chapman has brought science to life in new and interesting ways. Building on a relationship he established during the program, he partnered with Arizona State University last year to create an after school program that gave students the opportunity to study the planet Mars in an entirely new way. Throughout the school year Chapman’s students used materials from the university and examined images of Mars taken by NASA’s Odyssey Space Craft. Students presented the findings of their studies to Arizona State University via video phone last spring. Chapman received an Outstanding Teacher Award from the Technology Alliance of Central New York in May 2008.
“Mr. Chapman has taken learning and student scientific achievement to the next level,” said West Genesee Superintendent Chris Brown. “With Honeywell’s assistance the West Genesee School District offers some of the most engaging scientific opportunities available to middle school students.”
“Rick has shown a tremendous commitment to his students and to developing and using innovative teaching methods,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “We are delighted that he decided to pursue his own learning at Advanced Space Academy so that he can continue to offer students exciting programs that will stimulate their interest in science and engineering.”
Each educator receives a full scholarship following a rigorous application and selection process involving competing teachers from around the world. All costs — including tuition for the six-day program, roundtrip airfare, meals, accommodations and program materials are underwritten by Honeywell and the contributions of more than 1,700 Honeywell employees. Advanced Space Academy will be held June 17-25 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL, and the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL.
Since the program’s inception, Honeywell and its employees have sponsored 995 scholarships for teachers from 34 countries and 49 U.S. states, to participate in theHoneywell Educators @ Space Academy programs.