As the New Year begins, the school year enters its second half and AFA begins its awards and recognition cycle for the year. “Teacher of the Year” is a special program recognizing STEM oriented classroom innovations and initiatives at the local, state and national level. At the local level, each chapter has the opportunity to identify and select a teacher in its surrounding community(ies). The Chapter Teacher of the Year receives a $250 cash award, an AFA tote bag and AFA certificate. The Chapter winners are then eligible to compete for the $500 State Teacher of the Year Award. And, the State winners are eligible for the National Aerospace Teacher of the Year award, which includes a $3,000 award and trip to Washington, DC.

In 2009 William L. Austin, a dedicated teacher at Pocalla Springs Elementary School in Sumter, South Carolina, became the 24th recipient of the prestigious National Aerospace Teacher of the Year Award. The $3,000 cash award was presented at AFA’s Air and Space Conference. Also, earning cash awards of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively for second and third place were Dr. Myra Halpern of South Carolina and Matthew Smith of Utah.

Mr. Austin strongly believes in the importance of education, particularly the need for quality science and math education, that is the underpinning of aerospace development and many other professions. In a 15-year teaching career, he has instilled a love of learning and science in many students. He also shares his practical knowledge with other upcoming science teachers as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston and formerly at the Citadel Military College.

In 2004, the 19th annual winner was Dan Caron of New Hampshire. He developed an outstanding Computer Engineering program at Kingswood High School, requiring all students to participate in public outreach within the community. He also developed an E-mentor program which involves the student and an individual from the aerospace industry. He teaches a comprehensive model rocketry unit in which students build their own model rocket while learning about Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. His dedication and determination in teaching students about science and the importance of aerospace education were key to his selection as Teacher of the Year.

Patrick A. Welsh, a teacher at D.W. Daniel High School in Central, South Carolina, was the 20th recipient of the award. Welsh developed both an AP physics class and a TP physics program. The entire AP physics curriculum deals with Newtonian Mechanics and the TP program devotes about two-thirds of the program to motion. Aerospace topics are liberally incorporated into each of the courses. In the AP Physics class, simple harmonic motion and exponential growth and decay are covered and the class finishes with a unit on gravitation and the physics of spaceflight. The TP class covers units on electrostatics, DC circuits, waves and sound. He is a truly “rounded” teacher who excels in the teaching profession and contributes to his community through programs such as the Habitat for Humanity.

Susan Rippe, a teacher at Olathe Northwest High School located in Olathe, Kansas, was the 21st National Teacher of the Year. Rippe, a teacher with over twenty year's experience, developed an outstanding three-year aerospace and engineering program. The program is unique because it integrates curriculum with hands-on experience which benefits students by preparing them for future careers in engineering and aviation. They have the opportunity to learn the curriculum and then apply it in real-world internships. This allows students to see the value of the high school curriculum by successfully attaining college scholarships to allow them to continue their studies.

Jennifer Sinsel, a fifth grade teacher at Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita, Kansas, was the 22nd National Teacher of the Year named in the honor of educator/astronaut Christa McAuliffe. Sinsel has received numerous awards for her teaching. In addition, she is an accomplished author with four publications to her credit including Just the Facts: Earth and Space Science—A Teacher’s Guide with Standards-Based Activities in Earth and Space Science. Sinsel is also an active member in several professional organizations including the National Science Teachers Association and the Kansas Association for Teachers of Science.

In 2008, Leo Murphy, a teacher at Choctawhatchee and Crestview High Schools in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was the 23rd recipient of the prestigious National Aerospace Teacher of the Year Award. Murphy incorporates guest speakers, field trips and hand-on activities to get his students excited about careers in aviation and aerospace. In addition to his teaching, Murphy developed a local, low-cost, college degree completion alternative that allows his students to live at home and attend nearby state junior colleges and universities to obtain an Associates of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics.

Many of YOU are naturals for these awards, and I encourage you to contact your nearest AFA chapter or state leadership to apply. Your local chapter may be the sponsor of your VISIONS program (see: Visions of Exploration), so give them a call and join the competition! Details of the competition are found at the AFA website at Teacher of the Year Awards.

Sandy Schlitt, AFA Vice Chairman, Aerospace Education

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