[Source: Laura Ascione, Assistant Editor, eSchool News] — With an ultimate goal of drawing more students to careers in science and related disciplines, NASA has announced the creation of a nationwide network of teacher-mentors charged with helping inspire the next generation of explorers. Attended by 22 award-winning teachers from K-12 classrooms across the United States, the Airspace Systems Education Cohort (ASEC) convened July 19-22 at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field near San Jose, Calif.
Now in its second year, the ASEC program uses a train-the-teacher model of professional development to engage participants in scientific inquiry at the leading edge of education and technology. Educators who take part in the intensive four-day program are then encouraged to return to their communities in efforts to bolster the quality of science instruction in their schools. This year, two ASEC alumni from the 2005 class–James Nair and Gary Dewey– returned to NASA Ames to help conduct the seminars and act as mentors to the program’s newest members. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]