Mission Accomplished {Women’s History}
Written by Kimberly Mitchell of Write Your World

 

In 1984, President Reagan initiated the Teachers in Space Program, created to spark interest in science and mathematics among educators and their students and renew enthusiasm for the shuttle program. Christa McAuliffe, a high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire was chosen from 11,000 teachers to make history by being the first teacher in space.

Now that’s the part about women’s history. Here’s the rest of my story about this moment in history. One of the 5th grade teachers at my elementary school, Mr. B., also applied to the Teachers in Space Program. Though Mr. B wasn’t selected, he became an advocate for the program and for Ms. McAuliffe until every student in Liberty Elementary knew that on January 28th, 1986, a teacher just like those who stood at the front of our classrooms every day would do the impossible and ride a rocket into space.

My 2nd grade class gathered around the TV the morning of the launch. I saw Mr. B in the hallway, his face electric, his enthusiasm catching. Soon the entire school buzzed until teachers gave up trying to shush our excitement.

It was cold on the launch pad. Icicles hung from the shuttle. The launch was delayed as workers cleared the ice. I worried the launch would be canceled. The countdown started, flames burst from the bottom of the launch pad, the engines roared and my class cheered. For 73 amazing seconds we had liftoff. Then the unthinkable happened. I watched, disbelieving, as the Challenger exploded over the Atlantic.

My most vivid memory of that day isn’t the image of the shuttle exploding, but seeing Mr. B walk into our classroom with tears running down his face.

Three years later, I entered Mr. B’s classroom and began a 9 month journey full of discovery, fun and yes, space exploration. Mr. B took learning to a new level, challenging us to work harder, learn more, and above all, reach for the impossible. We raised money and the entire 5th grade class journeyed to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Who flies fifty-five 5th graders from Tulsa to Houston for the weekend? That trip still remains the highlight of my school memories.

In one year, I learned that learning itself could be exciting, that new discoveries are just around the corner, and that if you push yourself, you can achieve more than you ever imagined. All that came from Mr. B., and it came from a woman and teacher who climbed aboard a space shuttle and took a risk to inspire and educate those around her. Christa McAuliffe lost her life in the Challenger disaster, but in Mr. B.’s class, that sacrifice was never forgotten. He passed on her courage and excitement to his students and it lives inside me today.

Note: Christa McAuliffe photo from www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mcauliffe.html via www.wikimedia.org. This file is in the public domain because it was created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that “NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted”.

Kimberly Mitchell loves journeys, real or imagined. She has traveled to five continents and over twenty countries, always with a book in hand (or backpack). Now she writes middle grade adventures to send her characters on journeys, too. She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and the best souvenir she ever found, a Yemeni cat. You can follow her random musings on writing, traveling, space and even camels at her blog, Write Your World.