Finish all the games and you might just
get to experience microgravity!

How Can I Go Weightless?

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“In the state of Florida, fifth graders are required to take the Science Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) that assesses knowledge about Scientific Thinking as well as Physical, Earth and Space, Life and Environmental Sciences. During the 2006-2007 school year, a couple of changes were made to our school level science plan.

First, our district adopted new textbooks to accompany classroom lessons. Second, we incorporated our experiences with Zero G into appropriate lessons, hosted a Family focused science night and generated excitement/interest in science by sharing weightless stories with students, parents and staff whenever possible!

In one year, our fifth graders improved the mean scale score by nine points and our percentage of students scoring at a proficient level (3 or higher) rose from 58% in 2006, to an impressive 74% in 2007.”

- Meagan Graves, Teacher Grade 5, Enterprise Elementary School, Port St. John, Florida

Hawking Center Educator Fellow
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Stephen Hawking MERC Educator Fellows

David Callihan		David Callihan began teaching in government schools in 2004. For over 30 years, he worked for several corporations including Pecten International/Shell Oil (geophysicist), General Rubber Corporation (production control), Communicom Corporation (advertising), Decision Data Corporation (Director and field sales), and as a private consultant (IT systems, data warehousing and educational development). He team-teaches 8th grade math at DeSoto Middle School with his wife, Laurie, who teaches science to the same students. David is now working on his Masters in Science Education through Florida State University, with an emphasis on math integration and gender-based learning. David flew on Zero-G Flight 49 that was the inaugural flight to take-off and land on the Kennedy Space Center's Space Shuttle Landing Strip on November 6, 2005.

Chris Cantrell		Chris Cantrell was born on July 22, 1964, in Columbus, Georgia. He attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology and the Earth Sciences. After college, he worked in the chemical industry supporting chemical engineering research and production. Mr. Cantrell is currently teaching science at Melbourne High School in Brevard County, Florida.

Rebecca DeLua		I have a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Technology and Curriculum. I currently teach fourth grade at Annunciation Catholic School in Middleburg, FL, where my experience as a member of the Zero-G Educator Pilot Program in 2005 is highlighted in my classroom. I also teach a Space Science Extended Studies Program in the summers to 5th - 8th grade students nominated throughout the dioceses. My free time is spent with my children, Anne, 12 and Antonio, 9 and reading.

Niki Eggert		Niki Eggert is a K-5 Science Teacher at Layer Elementary School in Seminole County. She specializes in the integration of science into the reading curriculum, curriculum development and inquiry based science. Following her participation in the 2005 ZERO-G pilot teacher program, she sponsored a Microgravity Tea Party that incorporated science experiments, rocket launches, space ice-cream, and parental involvement. She has flown more than six ZERO-G flights amounting to more than 100 parabolas.

Joy Gilder		Ms. Gilder graduated from the University of North Alabama with degrees in Environmental Biology and Secondary Education. I have experience as a floral designer, Environmental Educator at a Nature Park, Toy Store Manager, Scientist aboard NOAA Research Ships, and currently teach science at McIntosh Middle School in Sarasota, Florida. My hobbies and interests include fishing, boating, kayaking, studying nature, my cats, traveling, and selling things on EBAY. All my life I've had a special interest in space and the space program and I'm so excited to be part of the ZERO G family.

Meagan Graves		Meagan Graves attended the University of South Florida and graduated in December 2003 with a bachelorís degree in Elementary Education. She teaches fifth grade at Enterprise Elementary School in Port St. John, Florida. In addition to her participation with ZERO G, Ms. Graves also coaches her schoolís Future Problem Solving team, provides additional after school science instruction to qualifying students, and is currently working towards National Board Certification. A native Floridian, Ms. Graves enjoys being outside whenever possible! In her spare time, she can be found working in her yard, fishing offshore or playing ìballî with her dog Maggie.

Susan Harris		Susan was one of the first fifteen teachers to fly with Zero-G in July 2005 and to date has flown five times, totaling over seventy parabolas. In April 2007, she had the privilege of being the Educator Flight Coach for Professor Stephen Hawkingís Zero-G Flight. As a middle school science teacher for sixteen of her 22 years in education, Susan chooses to attend professional development activities focused on space science or environmental education. In addition to Zero-G activities, she has participated in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program, the Maine Audubon Camp for Educators and Earthworks in Colorado.

Kyle Jeter		Mr. Kyle Jeter has taught Honors Astronomy and Honors Physics at Stoneman Douglas High School located in Parkland, Florida since 1994. He lives in Coral Springs with his wife, Sylvia, and children Chanel, 11, and Kyle, 2. In addition to teaching at Stoneman Douglas High, Mr. Jeter works at an elementary school aftercare program, directs a summer science program, and teaches an adult education class.

Chace Johnson		Chace Johnson is a Physics teacher and Science Department Chair for Space Coast Jr/Sr High School in Cocoa, Florida. Before teaching, he worked as a physical therapist and medical diagnostic technician for many years. Currently, Chase is using his ZERO-G experience to assist in acquiring National Board Certification in Physics.

Chris Lee		Chris Lee teaches Explorations in Technology and Technology Studies at Keystone Heights Jr-Sr High in Clay County. Chris has been fascinated with traveling in space ever since he watched several of the Apollo launches from the front lawn of Fletcher High School in Jacksonville Beach. The Zero-G experience was a dream come true and he uses it to help motivate his students to learn and become excited about space exploration.

Vanessa Mangual-Ruiz		Mrs. Vanessa Mangual-Ruiz has been a K-6 Professional Teacher for 14 years. Currently, Ms. Mangual-Ruiz is a Science and Math teacher for the 4th and 5th grade Spanish Immersion Program at John E. Ford K-8 in Jacksonville, Florida. She is working with the integration of science into reading and writing curriculum, curriculum development and inquiry based science. Vanessa is finishing her Master Degree in Administration and Supervision in Education with the University of Phoenix, and her Master Degree in Elementary Education in Montessori with the Barry University. In 2006, Vanessa participated in the Northrop Grumman Weightless Flights of Discovery with ZERO - G, an innovative science and engineering education program that incorporates the weightless experience into math and science education. Vanessa is one of two Hawking Center Educator Fellows serving as Bi-lingual professional development workshop providers.

Glenn Rutland		Glenn Rutland has been a teacher for 26 years and is currently a Teacher on Special Assignment with Santa Rosa County. Glenn teaches math and science through aviation at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. Her passion is science and aviation. Having two aviators in her family (husband retired DC-9 Captain and her son a C130 Hurricane Hunter pilot) itís hard not to be interested in flying. Glennís first ZERO-G flight was due to Northrop Grumman allowing teachers to experience the ZERO-G flight. Since that first flight Glenn has logged about 32 parabolas and is hooked on ZERO-G and how it can benefit education. Glenn is also a NASA/NEAT teacher and enjoys sharing her experiences with NASA and ZERO-G with other teachers through workshops that she conducts for her county and at state conferences.

Steven Sell		Steven Sell is a Senior Systems Engineer in the Entry, Descent, and Landing group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. He is currently the Terminal Descent Systems Engineer for the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which is scheduled for launch in the fall of 2009 and will arrive at Mars in the spring of 2010. Prior to joining the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mr. Sell worked on manned spaceflight experiments for over nine years at Payload Systems Inc. in Cambridge, MA. While there, he led several spaceflight experiments which have flown on the Space Shuttle, Space Station, and the Russian Progress spacecraft. Mr. Sell performed his undergraduate work at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering in 1992, and his graduate work at the University of Maryland, where he earned an MS in Aerospace Engineering in 1996. Steve is one of 6 specially trained Hawking Center Educator Fellows. In that capacity, he provides professional development workshops for ZERO-Gís education programs as well as coaching on education and individual ZERO-G flights.

Chaz Wendling		Chaz received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology in 1995. He began his career in 1995 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, as a Payload Electrical Engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems. After the Spacelab program was phased out, Chaz was responsible for software development in the expendable launch vehicles area and led the Advanced Information Systems lab. Soon after, he was selected as the Executive Intern to the KSC center director, General Roy D. Bridges Jr. He currently works in the Chief Engineers office at the Kennedy Space Center. Chaz serves as one of 6 Hawking Center Educator Fellows trained to provide ZERO-G professional development workshops as well as coach on ZERO-G education flights.

Deb Houts		Deb Houts, a National Board Certified Teacher, currently teaches Chemistry, Physics (including AP Chemistry and AP Physics) at Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Florida. She is the advisor for an after school Science club in which the students participate in science, and engineering competitions. Deb was selected for the first Educator Pilot Project in 2005. She became involved in the continuation of ZeroG's education program where she conducted the teacher training programs and flew as a coach with the teachers in the Northrop Grumman sponsored Weightless Flights of Discovery. Now serving as the Lead Education Coach, Deb has flown nearly 150 parabolas in more than 13 ZERO - G flights.

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Stephen Hawking MERC Educator Fellows