05.18.06 Amber Philman Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (321) 867-2468 RELEASE: 34-06 NASA SELECTS GEORGIA, VIRGIN ISLAND SCHOOLS FOR EXPLORER PROGRAM NASA recently selected 26 new schools in the Explorer Schools program, including three schools from Kennedy Space Center's district area in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These schools include Jean Childs Young Middle School in Atlanta, Conyers Middle School in Conyers, Ga., and Charles H. Emanuel School in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The NASA Explorer Schools program provides unique opportunities designed to engage and educate the future scientists who may someday help advance scientific interests through space exploration in the United States. "The NASA Explorer Schools program continues to bring new students and educators into the NASA family," said KSC Education Director Gregg Buckingham. "Our goal is to inspire and engage these students as they begin to think about career choices so that we can build the nation's work force of the future." Selected schools are eligible to receive up to $17,500 during a three-year partnership to help buy technology tools. Each year, new schools are selected to work with NASA to inspire students in science, technology and mathematics. The partnerships include teachers and education administrators serving grades four through nine, and students who primarily come from minority and underrepresented communities. NASA provides training to science and math teachers at NASA centers during the summer to acquire new teaching tools using the agency's unique content, experts and other resources. The program provides educators and students with content-specific activities that can be used in many local and state curricula to excite students about math and science. The NASA Explorer Schools program was chosen as one of the "Top Innovations in American Government Awards for 2006" by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. For a list of the NASA Explorer Schools and additional information, visit: http://explorerschools.nasa.gov For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://education.nasa.gov -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
