East Cobb Teacher Visits Space Academy

Sharon Golden, a teacher at Garrison Mill Elementary School in East Cobb, joined teachers from around the world to embark on a learning adventure of a lifetime last month during the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy program. 

Honeywell awarded 185 scholarships to teachers from 19 countries and 37 states to attend its simulated astronaut training and professional development program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. 

Golden participated in 45 hours of professional development, as well as an intensive educator curriculum focused on space science and exploration.  Activities included classroom, laboratory, and field training exercises linked to U.S. science and math teaching standards. 

• A high-performance jet simulation
• Scenario-based space mission
• Land and water survival training
• Interactive flight dynamics programs

 Only about one-third of 8th graders have the skills to perform even basic mathematic computations. Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy, created in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in 2004, is designed to address these trends in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education by providing teachers with new technical skills and teaching techniques that help motivate students.

Since the program’s inception, more than 1,650 teachers have attended this unique and innovative program.

Each Honeywell educator receives a full scholarship following a rigorous and lengthy application and selection process involving competing teachers from around the world. Scholarships include tuition for the six-day program, roundtrip airfare, meals, accommodations, and program materials, all sponsored by Honeywell and contributions from Honeywell employees.