School Honors Fallen Teacher and Astronaut
By Janene Nielsen
Contributing Writer, The News Connection
February 2006

Certain events in life stand out free and clear in memory, undimmed and unforgotten. They seem to happen in slow motion and in silence without the need for a musical score to dictate emotion. Pearl Harbor, Kennedy’s assassination, and the Challenger explosion are but a few that leaps readily to mind. It is a stunning mark of growing older to realize there are whole generations of people who do not share these memories. Life altering events to those who live through them become Trivial Pursuit questions for the rising generations. They study them in school, miss questions about them on history exams, and wonder to themselves why they need to know these things. The students, parents, and faculty at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Highland Village, Texas, however, do not wonder. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger explosion, Christa McAuliffe Elementary paid tribute to the memory and legacy of their namesake in a two day event on January 26th and 27th.

Built in 1987, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School was named for the inspirational teacher who was selected to be the first teacher in space and who subsequently lost her life when the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take off on January 28, 1986. In partnership with the Friends of Texas Public Schools, SHW Group Architects, Texas PTA, and a number of McAuliffe alumni, the school reminded its students and the community of the difference one person can make. Making a difference was a driving motivation in Christa Corrigan McAuliffe’s life. Born on September 2, 1948, the Massachusetts native was a beloved daughter, wife, and mother of two children. She earned a master’s degree in teaching and pursued a career in education. Enthusiastic about life and a champion for teachers, McAuliffe’s motto was “I touch the future. I teach.”

America ’s first teacher in space

On July 19, 1985, Christa McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to become America’s first teacher in space for the NASA Teacher in Space Project. As one of a seven member crew aboard the space shuttle Challenger, Christa hoped to inspire children everywhere to aspire to great things. In her book A Journal for Christa, McAuliffe’s mother Grace Corrigan wrote, "Christa lived. She never just sat back and existed. Christa always accomplished everything that she was capable of accomplishing. She extended her own limitations. She cared about her fellow human beings. She did the ordinary, but she did it well and unfailingly.” Although Christa McAuliffe lost her life when the space shuttle Challenger exploded, she continues to be an inspiration to teachers and students the world over. Pam Meyercord, Texas PTA President, said, “We need Christa McAuliffe’s vision today even more than we did 20 years ago. . . If we keep that vision alive, we will honor Christa McAuliffe’s memory.”

Doing just that at the January 26th evening program, Christa McAuliffe Elementary alumnus, Jared Lebon, presented the school with a framed photograph of Christa Corrigan McAuliffe which was found among her possessions following the Challenger catastrophe. The Lebon family of Highland Village are long time friends of the McAuliffe and Corrigan families. Having received the photograph from Christa McAuliffe’s mother, Grace Corrigan, Jared felt the most appropriate place for it to reside would be the school named in her honor. Now a freshman at Marcus High School, Jared Lebon paid tribute not only to the life and memory of Christa McAuliffe but also to all the dedicated teachers at Christa McAuliffe Elementary. Also present was Jared’s father, Paul Lebon, who provided a short documentary film on the life of Christa McAuliffe entitled “Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars.” Remembering the day of the tragedy, Paul Lebon said, “I just remember feeling absolute shock and devastation. It was obvious immediately what had happened. It wasn’t like the Kennedy assassination where people wondered what happened and how it happened. We knew- we just knew.”

The Christa McAuliffe Elementary School Choir, directed by Sheri Marshall, performed a moving rendition of “Heroes” using both voice and American Sign Language at the Thursday evening event. In a separate tribute on the morning of January 27th, a Flag of Learning and Liberty was presented to McAuliffe Elementary School by Scott Milder of Friends of Texas Public Schools, a non-profit organization whose mission is to restore the public’s trust in public schools. “It is important to put Christa’s message back in the spotlight,” said Mr. Milder. “ Liberty and learning are inseparable.” Unveiled at the event was a 7-foot display of the Flag of Learning and Liberty featuring the flag which Christa brought on the space shuttle and was subsequently recovered from the wreckage. The traveling display will remain at the school for the duration of the school year.

Also speaking at Friday morning’s event were Dr. Jerry Roy, LISD Superintendent, Gary Keep, CEO SHW Group Architects, Monica Ameen, a first grade teacher and former student at McAuliffe Elementary, Adam Haag, a Briarhill Middle School teacher and former student at McAuliffe, and Pam Meyercord, President of Texas PTA. In attendance, were Jennifer Mattingly, McAuliffe Elementary Principal, and members of the LISD Board of Trustees including Fred Placke, President, Tommy Kim, Vice President, and Carol Kyer, Secretary.

Twenty years ago, the space shuttle Challenger exploded. The life of Christa McAuliffe and her six team members were tragically lost that day. But Christa’s vision and hope for our nation’s schools was not lost. It endures and continues to inspire students and educators everywhere. Her motto, “I touch the future. I teach,” proved to be prescient. Twenty years after her death, she is still teaching all of us.

Article originally published by The News Connection at http://www.thenewsconnection.com/school_honors_teacher.htm.