Teachers In Space

Educator astronaut Barbara Morgan will soon be leaving NASA. Boise State University in Idaho has announced that Morgan will become a Distinguished Educator in Residence at the university: 

Through a dual appointment to Boise State’s colleges of engineering and education, will advise, lead and represent the university in its policy development, advocacy and fundraising in STEM-related programs, scholarships and initiatives. She will serve as a Boise State ambassador for scientific literacy in the community and help guide education policy in Idaho. Also, she will direct Boise State’s efforts to bring NASA education programs to area school districts, and serve as a guest lecturer and student mentor in departments across campus.

It’s encouraging to see Barbara Morgan returning to academia. Unfortunately, her retirement underscores one of the problems with the way the Educator Astronaut program is currently constructed. The program seeks out the best teachers and takes them out of the classroom, and they have no chance to return as long as they are part of the program. 

Last August, Teachers in Space called on NASA to announce flight dates for the remaining three educator astronauts. NASA partially responded to this call in October, when it announced that two educator astronauts would fly on Space Shuttle mission STS-119. Unfortunately, NASA has not responded to the call to help educator astronauts return to the classroom after flight. If they want to do that, they’re on their own, like Barbara Morgan.