Fairview Elementary Wins National Aerospace Award

Fairview Elementary School has skyrocketed to national prominence! During the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Day in May, the Civil Air Patrol representatives presented two national awards related to the Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program. The Air Force auxiliary offers the ACE program to K-6 educators who are aerospace education members or […]Read more The post Fairview Elementary Wins National Aerospace Award appeared first on Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.

Fairview Elementary School has skyrocketed to national prominence!

During the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Day in May, the Civil Air Patrol representatives presented two national awards related to the Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program. The Air Force auxiliary offers the ACE program to K-6 educators who are aerospace education members or CAP senior members.

Media specialist Suzanne Costner was named the 2015 National CAP ACE Educator of the Year. She was selected from 320 educators nationwide.

“Ms. Costner is a great teacher,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Garner, who serves as CAP’s Southeast region director for aerospace education. “She incorporates everything we try to do and serves as a perfect example of our program.”

Costner will embark on a STEM career exploration trip from June 24-29. She will fly aboard a C-130 from Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., to McChord Air Force Base in Seattle, Wash. She will then tour Amazon’s headquarters, Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, Museum of Flight and Starbucks Center.

Fairview Elementary was also named the 2015 National CAP ACE School of the Year. Principal Greg England accepted the award that includes $250 credit toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) materials.

Fairview Elementary School, which has organized STEM programs for the past three years, implemented the CAP ACE program for this school year. As an aerospace education member, Costner received a curriculum guide of aerospace-themed lessons based upon national academic standards.

Garner complimented Fairview Elementary’s fidelity in implementing the ACE program. “It’s very unusual for a school to win this national award for its first participating year.”

“It’s a huge, huge honor for our school — and an even bigger honor for Ms. Costner,” England said. “We’re proud of her and what she does for our school. She’s helped us to incorporate STEM programming throughout the curriculum, then build upon it each year. Our kids need these opportunities because it enriches our curriculum overall and takes learning to a different level.”

“We want to get them excited about STEM and hook them before they lose interest in these fields,” Costner said. “When they get out of college, most available jobs will be in those areas. They need to know about their options.”

In October, Fairview organized its first STEAM Day of this school year. Knoxville amateur radio operators talked to other operators associated with the North Pole Network. Dr. Al Hazari also led chemistry experiments.

Students had been looking forward to Tuesday’s event since October, Costner said. “They’ve been excited for months, because they knew about the model rockets. It couldn’t arrive fast enough for them.”

Shared from “The Daily Times” – http://www.thedailytimes.com/news/fairview-elementary-librarian-win-national-awards/article_36b460f6-052b-54e7-92a3-0bb7e2890b98.html

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