April 2015 is Hubble Space Telescope Month
6 FREE 1-hour Webinars

The NASA Educator Professional Development Collaborative at
Texas State University is providing six 1-hour webinars during the month of April to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the launch of the
Hubble Space Telescope. 

Educators are invited to attend and learn how to incorporate exciting images, videos, and activities into classroom instruction for students of all ages. 



John Weis has been an Education Specialist with NASA for the last 10 years. He is currently stationed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. In addition to providing online professional development for educators, John is responsible for educational outreach including professional development for pre-service and in-service teachers, community programs and liaising with state and local education agencies in the Marshall region of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee. John earned a BS in Science and Mathematics Teaching with an emphasis in Mathematics and Physics from the Florida State University and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton. Before joining NASA education, he spent 10 years as a secondary science teacher in Volusia County, Florida. His areas of specialization include Mathematics, Physics, Earth/Space Science, and Astronomy.
 

Dr. Lester Morales is the Education Professional Development Specialist at Kennedy Space Center and serves the states of GA and FL and the US territories of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

Previously, Dr. Morales worked with the NASA Aerospace Education Services Project and the INSPIRE project. Dr. Morales taught middle school science, anatomy, physiology, algebra, and geometry for the Miami Dade County Public School System in Miami, FL. He holds a current Florida teaching certificate in mathematics and biology.

Dr. Morales received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Florida International University and a Medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

 

Susan Kohler is the current Education Professional Development Specialist at Glenn Research Center and serves the states of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She has more than 25 years of progressively responsible K-12 educational leadership experience. She has served as Asst. Principal, Principal, Curriculum Director, Math/Science Consultant and Asst. Superintendent. Susan taught science for 13 years at the high school level. Her expertise in STEM and professional development is combined with her knowledge of new technology trends and innovative instructional strategies. Susan holds a Master’s in Education Administration from Bowling Green State College as well as a Bachelors degree of Science in Biological Sciences with the emphasis on Neurophysiology from Ramapo College in New Jersey.
 

Kelly is a NASA Education Professional Development Specialist at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. She works to support education in eleven East Coast states ranging from Virginia to Maine. Kelly started at NASA as an Informal Educator, which coordinated various programs and events intended to inspire teachers, students and families in grades K-8 in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) while bringing together NASA missions, engineers, and scientists at NASA Goddard’s Visitor Center. Prior to joining the education team at NASA, Kelly’s professional career consisted of 10 years of teaching Earth and Physical Sciences in various school systems and grade levels in the state of New Jersey. The districts have ranged from urban to suburban, as well as private and public schools. Outside of teaching in the United States, Kelly spent time during the summer as a volunteer English teacher in Costa Rica. She has pursued a career in teaching STEM and professional development workshops for NASA and has earned a Master’s degree in Science Leadership and Management.
 

Brandon has 16 years of experience as a teacher and leader in STEM Education.  Brandon became an Education Specialist with NASA in 2009. Brandon is responsible for designing and conducting professional development workshops for pre-service, in-service, & informal educators and collaborating with state and local education agencies in the Johnson region of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, & North Dakota.  Brandon earned a BS in Middle Grades Education with an emphasis in science and social studies and an MS in Educational Leadership & Administration with certifications for Principal and Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction.  Prior to joining NASA Education, Brandon spent 9 years in Kentucky as a classroom science teacher in grades 5-9, a 21st CCLC Academic Specialist, a K-12 Principal for Cornerstone Christian Academy, and an Adjunct Elementary Science Education Professor for Midway College.
 

Steve Culivan is the NASA STEM Education Professional Development Collaborative Specialist at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Previously, Mr. Culivan worked with the NASA Aerospace Education Services Project (AESP) at the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Space Center. Prior to his current twenty-six year career with NASA Education, Mr. Culivan taught middle school Earth and Space Science, life science, English, art, drug awareness programs and coached football, basketball, baseball, softball and track in his hometown of Baton Rouge, LA. He holds a current Louisiana teaching certificate in science and English. Mr. Culivan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Louisiana Tech University and a Masters of Science degree in Aerospace Education from Oklahoma State University.
 

Maria Chambers, an Alabamian native, is an Education Professional Development Specialist at NASA Ames Research Center. For the past two years, she was an Education Specialist at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Auburn University, a Master’s of Education in English as a Second Language and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a Focus in STEM from Adams State University. Prior to joining NASA, Maria worked as a 4th/5th grade science teacher in Colorado and Alabama for 5 years and an ELL teacher for 2 years. Maria served as a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison for 3 years in Colorado Springs. She also completed the NASA Endeavor Program where she received a teaching certificate in STEM education. As a classroom teacher, Maria integrated inquiry based learning and technology into the science classroom to challenge her students. She also served as the district science collaborator and met with other teacher’s district wide to write curriculum for science. As a NASA Education Specialist, Maria overseas multiple student programs that are focused on space exploration and engaging high school students all the way up to community college students.
 

Barbara Buckner is a 20-year STEM classroom teacher with a Doctorate’s Degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Louisville.  Her research interest included the impact of technology on student achievement and teacher behavior.  Buckner recently served as a 2013-14 Einstein Fellow at the National Science Foundation Education and Human Resources Directorate under the supervision of Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy where she collaborated with colleagues on learning, learning environments, boarding participating and workforce development.Barbara sees education as her calling and has spent her life sharing her love for learning with everyone around her. Knowing that today’s student will compete in a global economy, Barbara says that “It is imperative that today’s students are prepared with consistent rigorous and relevant standards that produce more STEM majors, particularly women, to keep this great nation at the forefront in technology, innovation, and advancement.”