Aviation Education Efforts Capitalize on National Teacher Day

Oklahoman kids got to have a little fun for National Teacher Appreciation Day, in the sense that "fun" means "mandatory after-school education activities".

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics embarked on its first-ever partnership with the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Star Program, introducing an after-school activity for 6th and 7th grade students across the state. Under the new system, students from a handful of public schools have field tested a new curriculum focused around the first female POC pilot in the USA, Bessie Coleman. Coleman is the core of the program, as befitting its namesake, with the eventual goal of getting kids to strengthen their interests in STEM and education.

“The ODAA is delighted to have field-tested the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Star Program,” stated Paula Kedy, Statewide Aerospace STEM Education Manager. "This ten-week program has provided sixth and seventh-grade students with engaging, hands-on aviation activities and insights into important aerospace careers. Meeting Gigi Coleman, Bessie Coleman’s great-niece, was a highlight for students, igniting their passion for aviation."

"Our state's aerospace education owes much of its success to our extensive network of strong teachers," Grayson Ardies, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. "Their unwavering commitment to implementing innovative programs such as the AOPA You Can Fly curriculum, Choose Aerospace, and the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Star Afterschool program reflects Oklahoma's dedication to fostering innovation and learning."

FMI: www.oklahoma.gov