Space Foundation Teacher Liaison Program Expands International Outreach; Adds 13 Educators in India

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 4, 2015) - Since its inception in 2002, the Space Foundation's elite Teacher Liaison program has expanded worldwide, and with the addition of 34 educators for 2015, including 13 from India, has grown to 20 international representatives and 150 active participants.

The 34 new Teacher Liaisons will serve as advocates for space-themed education, and will use Space Foundation-provided training and resources to further integrate space principles into the classroom.

Each January, Teacher Liaison applications are reviewed by a panel of experienced Teacher Liaisons and representatives from the space industry and the military. A criterion for selection is active promotion of space and science education.

The program helps teachers with a passion for space education to connect with other like-minded educators around the globe to share ideas for bringing space themes into the classroom. The program welcomes public, private and homeschool teachers, as well as school administrators, including principals, specialists, curriculum and instruction developers, and others who deliver education to students.

The new 2015 Teacher Liaisons are:

Maharashtra, India
Joyeeta Adhikari, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Rajeshwari Bindra Vidya Valley School, Pune
Jyoti Bodhe, DES Secondary School, Pune
Sneha Devarhubli, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Anindita Ghosh, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Swaroop Gokhale, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Nidhi Jain, Dolphins International School, Pune
Liesle Megan, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Reshma Shaikh, Global Indian International School, Pune
Pallavi Sharma, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Nilima Shett, Vidya Valley School, Pune
Reshmi Sinha, Global Indian International School, Chinchwad, Pune
Pallavi Surana, Vidya Valley School, Pune

USA
Alaska
T. Jerome Baxter, Pearl Creek Elementary, Fairbanks

Arizona
Rebekah Kienenberger, Arete Preparatory Academy, Gold Canyon

Colorado
Jennie Anderson, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, Colorado Springs
Mary Gordan, Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, Evergreen
Nicole McWright, STEM Launch, Thornton
Debby Penny, Skyview Middle School, Colorado Springs
Heidi Ragsdale, West Middle School, Grand Junction
Sandi Smith, STAR Academy, Colorado Springs

Connecticut
Christina Messner, Hamden Public Schools, North Haven

Kentucky
Shawn Boggs, Bardstown High School, Cox's Creek
Heather Ribblett, Kentucky Country Day, Louisville

Massachusetts
Nancy Gifford, Monomoy Regional Middle School, Harwich

Maryland
Nancy Belle, Charles County Public Schools, LaPlata
Dorain Janney, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt
Asante Johnson, Wheatley Education Campus, Accokeek
Holly Walsh, Mt Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, Waldorf

Nebraska
Jay Hentzen, Mercy High School, Omaha

New Jersey
Suzanne Burnetta, Hamilton School, Ocean View
Denise Kuehner, Oradell Public School, Old Tappan

New Mexico
Margaret Bohlin, Valley View Elementary School, Roswell

Wyoming
Colleen Zeglin, Casper Planetarium, Casper

The 2015 Teacher Liaisons will be publicly recognized at the Space Foundation's 31st Space Symposium, which is being held April 13-16 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA.

Learn more about Teacher Liaisons and Space Foundation education programs by visiting www.spacefoundation.org/education.

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is the foremost advocate for all sectors of space, and is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs and major industry events, including the annual Space Symposium, in support of its mission "to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity." Space Foundation World Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA, has a public Discovery Center, including El Pomar Space Gallery, Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere® and the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center. The Space Foundation has a field office in Houston and conducts government affairs from its Washington, D.C., office. It annually publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, and through its Space Certification and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, recognizes space-based innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Visit www.SpaceFoundation.org, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube, and read our e-newsletter Space Watch.