NC Space Grant Welcomes Crew 5 to the Space Education Ambassadors Program

NC Space Grant proudly announces the selection of 15 outstanding educators from 14 counties across North Carolina as members of the fifth cohort—Crew 5—of the North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors (NCSEA) program. This initiative continues to grow a dynamic statewide network of teacher leaders who bring NASA educational resources to classrooms and communities across the state.

With the addition of Crew 5, the NCSEA network now includes 75 educators from 44 counties, who are dedicated to integrating space science and STEM education into their local communities.

“We are thrilled to welcome our newest group of Space Education Ambassadors,” said Jobi Cook, Associate Director of NC Space Grant. “Crew 5 includes classroom teachers as well as district-level STEM and technology specialists. Their expertise and enthusiasm will fuel an amazing year as they connect with NASA professionals and inspire students through hands-on, space-based learning.”

The NCSEA program is offered in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NC Space Grant works closely with education specialists from Langley and other NASA centers to deliver professional development opportunities that reflect current NASA missions and themes.

Crew 5 will launch their professional development on June 24 at NC State University. This kickoff session will introduce NASA’s educational resources, demonstrate how space science can be integrated across the North Carolina curriculum, and engage participants in collaborative engineering design challenges.

Throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, Crew 5 Ambassadors will explore NASA’s six Mission Directorates through interactive virtual sessions featuring NASA subject-matter experts. Ambassadors will also design and implement creative strategies to share these resources with fellow educators in their schools, districts, and beyond.

A major highlight of the experience will be a summer 2026 visit to NASA Langley, where Crew 5 will tour research facilities and engage directly with NASA scientists, engineers, and educators. This immersive visit will strengthen real-world connections between classroom learning and NASA’s cutting-edge missions.

In addition to developing NASA-aligned teaching strategies, NCSEA educators will gain access to a broad professional network across multiple NASA centers and ongoing support from space science professionals. The program is designed to boost teacher confidence and capacity to provide meaningful STEM opportunities, whether or not directly tied to space exploration.

Meet Our Crew 5 NCSEA educators: