Shirlee Kasztelan, an eighth-grade science teacher at Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School, recently participated in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery, a hands-on training program that gives teachers an opportunity to take a zero-gravity aircraft flight.
Participation in the program is meant to inspire teachers so that they can help inspire their students to pursue careers in science, technology and math. Teachers from all over the state applied for the program just before last school year ended, and 60 were chosen from nearly 200 applicants.
Over the summer, Kasztelan had the opportunity to complete science workshops. When she returned to school, her students partnered with her for a series of online zero gravity physics labs, and designed a number of experiments, which were approved by scientists at NASA, for Kasztelan to perform during the flight.
On September 30, Kasztelan took a four hour zero-gravity aircraft flight at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, which her students were able to track online.
Kasztelan hopes her participation in the flight program will inspire students as they develop their leadership skills.
"Students will benefit from my experience by witnessing that hard work and taking the time to apply for opportunities may actually pay off," she said. "If they believe, they can take the leap of faith and go for it."
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