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McLean’s Angela Groves-Price Selected As Space Foundation Teacher Liaison
McLean Middle School science teacher Angela Groves-Price had to a have a cry in her driveway. She just received the news that she was finally joining her “space family.” The emotions took over.
“I was elated,” she said. “I just sat there and cried.”
The pure joy Groves-Price felt came after being selected to join an exclusive group of educators in the Space Foundation’s Teacher Liaison program for 2020. The 39 Teacher Liaisons were chosen for their active promotion of space, science and STEM education in the classroom.
Ms. Groves-Price is one of six teacher liaisons from Texas. She’s been with Fort Worth ISD since 2000.
“I’d like to congratulate Ms. Angela Groves,” FWISD District 6 Trustee Anne Darr said during the Fort Worth School Board meeting on Tuesday. “I am grateful for the impact that she makes on FWISD’s future scientists, engineers, mathematicians, astronauts and space pioneers.”
“Started by the Space Foundation in 2004, the Teacher Liaison program positively influences STEM education on an international level, using space-related content to inspire the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers and space pioneers,” according to a recent Space Foundation media release. “Teacher Liaisons serve as advocates for STEM education and use training and resources, provided by the Space Foundation, to further integrate space principles into their classrooms, schools, communities and beyond.
“New Teacher Liaisons are selected by a panel comprised of experienced Teacher Liaisons, as well as representatives from the space industry and the military. The Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program is funded by Lockheed Martin and the Miller-Wood Foundation.”
Ms. Groves-Price, who teaches eighth grade and seventh accelerated at McLean, described the application process as rigorous. She went through it last year and didn’t make the cut.
“I was denied the first time and didn’t get in,” she said. “This was my second time to apply. Getting in is truly special because you’re around people that are involved in the same thing and have the same desires about a topic. You have a space family.”
“Each selected class of Teacher Liaisons is called a ‘flight’ to denote the teachers’ mission as premier Space/STEM educators. A new flight of Teacher Liaisons is selected each December,” according to the Space Foundation. “This program is open to public, private and homeschool teachers, in both informal and formal education, as well as school administrators, principals, specialists, curriculum and instruction developers, as well as others who deliver educational programs to students.”
Ms. Groves-Price is in a flight that includes educators from across the country plus six international candidates from India, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Space and science-related studies have long been close to her heart. As an elementary student, Ms. Groves-Price took a field trip to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and the Wright Brothers National Museum, and the experience stuck with her.
“When it came around to me getting involved in education, people tend to focus on one niche and mine was space,” she said.
In addition to Ms. Groves-Price, McLean’s ties to space go deep. Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean attended McLean, and a print of one of his original paintings was presented to the school. Ms. Groves-Price took part in the presentation.
Ms. Groves-Price is a NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Solar System Ambassador, Space Center Houston CREW Member and a NASA MAVEN Educator Ambassador. She also works closely with Texas Christian University professor Dr. Molly Weinburgh and the Andrews Foundation, which support her space education endeavors and sponsored her space science camp last summer in partnership with the Cosmosphere.
“New teacher liaisons will be publicly recognized at the Space Foundation’s 36th Space Symposium, to be held March 30 – April 2, 2020, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs,” according to the Space Foundation. “In addition to recognition activities, Teacher Liaisons also participate in the Space Foundation’s virtual distance delivery education programs.”
-FWISD-
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