- Flight 25 includes 17 teachers from U.S. states and 15 international educators
- Program globally promotes space-related STEM education in schools
- Selectees will take part in Space Symposium in April
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Feb. 6, 2025 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as a gateway to unite the global space community, today announced the addition of 32 educators to the International Teacher Liaison program. This year’s class of elite educators includes 15 international applicants from Brazil, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal and Vietnam. They were chosen for their active promotion of space as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the classroom.
Space Foundation International Teacher Liaisons are a community of more than 400 educators in 25 countries and 41 U.S. states and territories who work to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. Established in 2004, this internationally recognized program delivers benefits that improve teaching skills, provide an encouraging community for educators, and influence space and science education at a global level.
Each selected class of Teacher Liaisons is referred to as a “flight” in reference to the teachers’ mission as premier space/STEM educators. Every year, following a rigorous application process, a new flight of Teacher Liaisons is selected. This global 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, and others who deliver educational programs to students. A panel comprised of experienced Teacher Liaisons and representatives from the space industry and the military selected the newest flight.
“We are proud to welcome 32 educators from around the world to our prestigious Teacher Liaison program, where they will gain the tools and resources to inspire the next generation of innovators in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Mel Stricklan, executive director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow at Space Foundation. “What makes our program truly unique is its ability to unite a global network of pioneering educators committed to providing their students with an education that extends beyond the stars and inspires them to reach new horizons — ultimately shaping the space explorers of tomorrow.”
Space Foundation supports Teacher Liaisons by providing them with curriculum resources and various professional development opportunities. Teacher Liaisons also get the opportunity to design hands-on learning activities in a collaborative setting and engage with top educators and space industry experts.
“Through my acceptance into the Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program, I hope to deepen my understanding of space education and STEM by collaborating with other educators who share the same passion as myself. Having more resources to create meaningful connections between space and classroom learning will give me more opportunities to spark curiosity and passion for discovery in future generations,” said Avri DiPietro, International Teacher Liaison from New Braunfels, Texas.
The 2025 flight of Teacher Liaisons will participate in special programming, including keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and breakout sessions at Space Foundation’s annual Space Symposium, to be held April 7-10 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
Introducing Space Foundation’s Teacher Liaison Flight 25
United States
- Alabama
- Morgan Brooks, Albertville High School, Albertville
- California
- Linh Ho, South JHS, Brea
- Colorado
- Kristina Garski, Cheyenne Mountain High School, Colorado Springs
- Kay Sanders, Otero Elementary School, Colorado Springs
- Lynne Albert, Red Rocks Community College, Littleton
- McKenna Lovejoy, Pikes Peak State College (PPSC), Colorado Springs
- Montana Gottman, Jack Swigert Middle School, Colorado Springs
- Florida
- Melissa Sleeper, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Vero Beach
- Kansas
- Aubrey Roths, Wellington Middle School, Wellington
- Minnesota
- Mark Westlake, Saint Thomas Academy, Farmington
- New Jersey
- Shefali Mehta, Princeton High School, Middlesex
- North Carolina
- Adam Benoit, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics-Morganton, Newton
- Texas
- Avri DiPietro, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, New Braunfels
- Claudia Cortez, Gladys Porter Early College High School, Brownsville
- Jessica Schilder, Tomball High School, Tomball
- Xavier Gonzalez, Hanna Early College High School, Brownsville
- Washington D.C.
- Melinda Viteri, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital, Washington
International
- Brazil
- Fabio Meneghesso, Centro de Línguas, Linguagens, Inovação e Criatividade – Clic, Belo Horizonte
- Francisco Sousa, IFRN Campus Apodi, Rio Grande do Norte
- Sandra Nascimento, Centro de Ensino Senador Clodomir Millet, Timon
- Vanessa Simões da Silva Oliveira, Curitiba, Paraná
- Canada
- Anastasia Cook, Space Foundation, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- India
- Saswati Das, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Tapaswini Sharma, Mudra Dance Studio, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Mexico
- Carlos Espinosa Marchan, Escuela Secundaria Técnica No. 213 “Bandera Nacional,” Guerrero
- Nigeria
- Blessing Akila, ECWA Secondary school, Northbank, Makurdi, Benue State
- Daniel Isah, Liftoff Africa, Kuje, Abuja
- Maranatha Nguhilen Haa, Federal Government College, Jos, Plateau
- Pakistan
- Urooj Seemeen, E-Services and Technologies, Karachi, Sindh
- Portugal
- Carla Garcia, EB1/JI Cesário Verde, Caxias, Lisbon
- Juan Nolasco, Escola Básica e Secundária de Rebordosa, Penafiel, Oporto
- Vietnam
- Nam Ngo, Inspire School, Ho Chi Minh
To learn more about Teacher Liaisons and other Space Foundation education programs, please visit www.discoverspace.org/education.
About Teacher Liaisons
International Teacher Liaisons, established in 2004 by Space Foundation, is a community of more than 400 educators in 25 countries and 41 U.S. states and territories dedicated to inspiring the next generation of space explorers. The program is open to public, private and homeschool teachers as well as school administrators, curriculum developers, and individuals involved in delivering education programs to kindergarten through college students. By enhancing teaching skills through professional development programs, International Teacher Liaisons foster a supportive community for educators while influencing space and science education globally. Visit International Teacher Liaisons at discoverspace.org/education/resources-for-educators/teacher-liaisons.
About Space Foundation
Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as a gateway to unite the global space community and accelerate its growth and success. Space Foundation uniquely educates, collaborates and informs the entire space workforce from early education to college, to the start of their careers as new professionals, and to leaders at the highest levels in government and commercial industry. Driven by partnerships, Space Foundation raises support from corporate members, sponsors, fundraising and grants. Visit Space Foundation at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Tags: Space Foundation, International Teacher Liaisons, STEM education, space education, science education, workforce development, professional development, lifelong learning, Space Symposium, STEM, educators, teachers
Media Contacts:
Rich Cooper
Vice President, Strategic Communications & Outreach
Space Foundation
(202) 596-0714
rcooper@spacefoundation.org
Dottie O’Rourke
TECHMarket Communications
(650) 344-1260
SpaceFoundation@techmarket.com