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Episode 36: Early Influencers; How Teachers Inspire
Today, it is my pleasure to interview one of my most influential teachers--my 8th grade science teacher Jeff Johnson. Jeff grew up at the start of the space age and was heavily influenced by Sputnik 1, John Glenn and the vast media onslaught of TV and media that emerged shortly thereafter. .In his early year’s Jeff created space scrapbooks with articles he found and his love was fueled even further by watching the Apollo 11 landing with his family.
Although Jeff’s interest in science was nurtured in high school, it was a serendipitous meeting at a softball game with an educator that led him to teaching and he soon began an internship in Columbia Missouri before moving to Florida. It was in Florida where Jeff recalls his first in person space shuttle launch with non other than Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, on board.
Johnson went on to apply and be accepted as the first NEWMAST (NASA Educational Workshop for Math and Science Teachers) cohort - at the Kennedy Space Center where, for two full weeks, he got to see many behind-the-scenes aspects of the space program, including meeting an astronaut and seeing space shuttle Challenger up close as it was being prepped for a mission. He also began implementing the science fair both at his school and at Florida State Science and Engineering Fair.
After a move to Wisconsin, Jeff became a high school chemistry teacher and attended highly-regarded National Science Foundation Workshop for High School Chemistry Teachers but noted the increasing demand for internet connection and computers in the classroom. He shifted his professional focus to supporting technology as a teaching tool which ultimately led to working for a software company helping schools transition to the technology demands.
These days, Mr. Johnson recently relocated to New Mexico where he enjoys bird watching and photography. He looks forward to getting a telescope to take advantage of the darks skies in his new home, and to reconnect with his love of space.
Please stay tuned after for our takeaways.
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By Shawna Christenson
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Today, it is my pleasure to interview one of my most influential teachers--my 8th grade science teacher Jeff Johnson. Jeff grew up at the start of the space age and was heavily influenced by Sputnik 1, John Glenn and the vast media onslaught of TV and media that emerged shortly thereafter. .In his early year’s Jeff created space scrapbooks with articles he found and his love was fueled even further by watching the Apollo 11 landing with his family.
Although Jeff’s interest in science was nurtured in high school, it was a serendipitous meeting at a softball game with an educator that led him to teaching and he soon began an internship in Columbia Missouri before moving to Florida. It was in Florida where Jeff recalls his first in person space shuttle launch with non other than Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, on board.
Johnson went on to apply and be accepted as the first NEWMAST (NASA Educational Workshop for Math and Science Teachers) cohort - at the Kennedy Space Center where, for two full weeks, he got to see many behind-the-scenes aspects of the space program, including meeting an astronaut and seeing space shuttle Challenger up close as it was being prepped for a mission. He also began implementing the science fair both at his school and at Florida State Science and Engineering Fair.
After a move to Wisconsin, Jeff became a high school chemistry teacher and attended highly-regarded National Science Foundation Workshop for High School Chemistry Teachers but noted the increasing demand for internet connection and computers in the classroom. He shifted his professional focus to supporting technology as a teaching tool which ultimately led to working for a software company helping schools transition to the technology demands.
These days, Mr. Johnson recently relocated to New Mexico where he enjoys bird watching and photography. He looks forward to getting a telescope to take advantage of the darks skies in his new home, and to reconnect with his love of space.
Please stay tuned after for our takeaways.