Wheeling H.S. teacher earns NASA honor

Lisa del Muro, science teacher at Wheeling High School, has been awarded an Endeavor Fellowship with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which provides live, online training for educators earning a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University, N.Y.

Teachers engage with education experts, NASA scientists, and each other to carry to the classroom a greater understanding of NASA discoveries, thus impacting student learning in a real-world context. In doing so, the educators can inspire the next generation of explorers, scientists, engineers and astronauts.

Del Muro teaches Advanced Placement Environmental Science and Physics at Wheeling High School and sponsors the school’s Environmental Club. She embodies the term “agent of change” in her leadership, innovation, planning and implementation of dynamic new ways of teaching in the STEM realm.

“I enthusiastically look forward to bringing cutting edge STEM content through collaboration with NASA,” said del Muro, “so that I can continue to support the STEM initiatives here at Wheeling and prepare our students to successfully compete in our new economy.”

Wheeling Principal Lazaro Lopez pointed out that del Muro is a civil engineer turned science teacher.

“Lisa epitomizes the type of real world experience we strive to bring to the classroom at Wheeling High School,” he said. “We are very proud of her selection by NASA and look forward to the impact it will have on our many future engineers and scientists.”

The highly competitive NASA Fellowship is a model for effectual improvements in teacher practices. Endeavor collaborates with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to promote effective strategies for teaching and learning. Funding for the program is provided through the NASA Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund, in tribute to the dedicated crew of the space shuttle Challenger.

For more about the Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project, visit www.us-satellite.net/endeavor. Details of NASA’s education programs are at www.nasa.gov/education.