Brantley’s Regina Parker to bring space camp excitement to classroom

By Haley Mitchell Godwin

Regina Parker, a dedicated fourth-grade math and science teacher at Brantley School, is preparing to give her students an out-of-this-world learning experience. After attending the Space Academy® for Educators program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® in Huntsville, Parker is eager to incorporate newfound knowledge and enthusiasm into her classroom, demonstrating to her students that the sky’s the limit when it comes to learning.

“We learned so many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities to bring back to the classroom,” Parker said. “We learned a lot about how to work together as a team to accomplish goals and to step out of our comfort zones and push ourselves mentally and physically.”

Parker has a history of seizing and encouraging learning opportunities for her students and seizing this opportunity for herself was a well-deserved experience according to Jennifer Penn, guardian of rising fifth grader Blaine Bolding who was in Parker’s class last year. Penn said that Parker’s dedication has not gone unnoticed by her students and their families.

“She always [goes] the extra mile to expose our children to various experiences that helped shape them, outside of the standard classroom things,” Penn said. ”She [makes] sure that the fourth graders [get] to visit the capitol. [She] took them on a field trip to the Alabama Nature Center in Wetumpka and arranged for the extension agency to bring their Skins and Skulls exhibit to the classroom.”

The camp used astronaut training that included mission scenarios requiring critical thinking and problem-solving to introduce new ways of teaching STEM concepts. The sessions covered topics such as the International Space Station, microgravity, rocketry, propulsion, astronomy, astrophysics and more.

Designed to be easily replicated in classrooms, the activities aim to ignite student interest in STEM education. Parker’s team came out on top during the Orion mission scenario, where Parker was chosen to act as flight engineer.

As a child, Parker had always dreamed of attending space camp but never had the chance. When she received an email about the chance to attend space camp for a week at no cost, she applied immediately.

According to Parker, this was the best professional development she has ever experienced.

“I was just so excited I was selected to attend and represent not only Brantley School but also Crenshaw County,” Parker said. “It was a very challenging, educational and fun week.”

Parker’s space camp journey was funded by the Alabama Legislature, which aimed to bring teachers from across the state together for this unique week-long professional development program and allowed them to earn 45 professional development credit hours.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge®, the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket, and world-class traveling exhibits. It serves as the Official Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and showcases defense technologies from the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.

For more information, visit https://www.rocketcenter.com .

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