Anne Beers Elementary, Linking Stars to Stars

When you think of an elementary school, the first thing that may come to mind is a picture of very young and very energetic students. Couple these qualities with a strong community and partnership support with a deep academia in Space Science and you will get Anne Beers Elementary School.

Art exhibit display at Anne Beers Elementary about the life of Robert Goddard

Anne Beers Elementary School is located in S.E., Washington, D.C. and is a one of a kind elementary school. Not only because of being the only elementary in the United States to have an actual Shuttle Simulator Facility but, because it's the home of the only student generate SPACE EXPLORERS' Air to Space Museum in the United States. Anne Beers continues to seek "technological excellence, which originated with the 1998 dedication of the Louis Stokes Mission Control Center and Planetarium, through the partnership with NASA Glen Research Center, NASA/SEMAA (Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy and the Department of Science and Engineering at the University of the District of Columbia."

	Anne Beers Elementary School Principal, Anthony Fears/Photos by Pat Izzo, Code 293

Last Friday, Anne Beers held its grand opening of its SPACE EXPLORERS' Air and Space Museum. The Air to Space Museum is a collaborative effort among the students to create wall size graphics and displays and descriptive labels and scripts for interactive model, which reflect the various aspects of aviation and space history. The evening began with opening remarks from the school's principal Mr. Anthony Fears. Fears explained how the collaborative effort gave the students the learning experience of working and getting along in a team-oriented environment, which is a must for a successful achievement.

It is through the efforts of educational partnerships with NASA Centers including Goddard, which provides the educational outreach, including "A Day with NASA", professional development activities for teachers and Goddard's Computers for Learning Program that Anne Beers continues to illustrate positive performance-based outcomes that are aligned with local, state and national learning standards.

Among the guest speakers at the event were Dr. Kerry Joels, President of the Total Learning Research Institute and a former NASA employee, who provides guidance on the science and mathematics curriculum and teaches students in the Shuttle Simulation Facility. His words echoed Mr. Fears, as he expressed the need for a teaming environment for educational growth and enhancement.

Connie Hollingsworth, NASA Education Research Program Manager

In addition, former Anne Beers Principal Constant (Connie) Hollingsworth, an education research program manager at NASA Headquarters shared her story of how her efforts grew into an educationally historic event. It was because of Hollingsworth's initiatives upon leaving Anne Beers to join the NASA that the school had prospered into a dream of hers that has come true in more way than one. Her simple request to a congressman for the planetarium sparked into a flame of a greater initiative that blossomed into educational partnerships, community support and students who have pride and a strong desire to achieve excellence.

Additional guest included Dr. Kenly, Towson University; Dr. Wallace, Marriott Corporation and Mrs. Gregory former teacher at Anne Beers and mother of Frederick Gregory, Deputy Administrator of NASA who also attended Anne Beers Elementary.

	Dr. Kerry Joels explains the Shuttle Simultor's flight deck to a representative from D.C.'s Public School Executive Office of Superintendent.

Students of Anne Beers later gave a superb performance on the history of flight and guests toured the museum like halls of the school and shuttle simulator facility. This event exemplified that with assistance of the faculty and partnerships that students can "reach for the moon to be among the stars."