For the first time in history, NASA has allowed junior high school teachers to board NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) for scientific research, starting with three teachers from the Hart District.

Teachers Marisa Heflin from Arroyo Seco, Shelly Turski from La Mesa and Stacy Wade-Robb from Rio Norte are expected to fly as Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) on NASA’s SOFIA in the fall of 2021. 

Photo Courtesy of NASA

“Science teachers having the opportunity to interact with scientists and be a part of their scientific studies as those studies are being rolled out is priceless,” said David LeBarron, Director of Curriculum and Assessment for the Hart District. “The knowledge and skills learned, along with the teacher’s excitement for science, returns to their classrooms with them and their students benefit.” 

Due to a strong history between NASA and the Hart District, the three teachers have been selected to board the converted 747 that is expected to fly up to 40,000 feet between 8 to 12 hours alongside NASA professionals, according to officials with the Hart District. 

“What NASA has done is they’ve opened up an opportunity for science teachers around the country to be able to fly on one of these missions,” said Dave Caldwell, spokesperson for the Hart District. “No other school district even comes close to the amount of teachers we’ve been able to have participate.

Every year we’ve had three high school teachers and this year three of our middle school teachers have been selected to attend.”

The three teachers are scheduled to fly on two missions, conducting research submitted from scientists at the world’s leading universities. They are expected to spend a week in Palmdale, training in astrophysics and planetary science and working out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, according to officials.

“I am extremely proud and humbled to have been selected for this program,” said Stacy Wade-Robb, Rio Norte Junior High School teacher. “I have always had a love for astronomy since I was a child watching the first Moon landing live in my living room on our black and white television. Of course, at that time women were not allowed to be astronauts or encouraged to pursue careers in the sciences, so this SOFIA opportunity is a dream come true for me.”

The teachers are currently participating in an online professional development program to learn the science behind the infrared telescope as well as the history behind the SOFIA plane, according to Wade-Robb. 

Participants are not permitted to know exactly what may be studied aboard their trip until they report to the immersion week in Palmdale expected sometime between Nov. 2021 and Feb. 2022. 

 They keep that information confidential until NASA says it can be shared, according to Wade-Robb.

Once complete with their missions, NASA provides the teachers with a physical science curriculum module created by the SETI Institute to share with their classes and students. According to past evaluations of the AAA program, students whose teachers participated in the program have shown increased STEM performance and engagement, according to NASA. 

“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. “This powerful STEM program will allow the SETI Institute to help bring NASA science into classrooms across the country.”

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