Drake State Community and Technical College will be selecting 25 teachers from Madison County middle schools and high schools to participate in a training program to educate students about NASA and STEM opportunities.

“It’s a collaboration between NASA, Drake State, and local schools,” Drake State Student Success Specialist Tiffany Green told the Huntsville Business Journal.

Drake State has already sent out invitations to educators from around Madison County. “They can be new teachers to the field, or more experienced and looking to see it in a new way,” said Green. “We’re looking for a wide range of people.”

During the course of the program, scheduled to run from June 13 through June 17, teachers will learn a NASA curriculum designed to inform young students about the potential of a career in the aerospace industry.

The program will operate under NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), which provides resources to institutions, such as the historically-Black Drake State, that serve demographics that are currently underrepresented in NASA specifically and the STEM field more generally.

“In terms of workforce development, this program will enable teachers to prepare students early for a potential career in NASA,” said Green. “Students will know what NASA is looking for, and they can prepare for internships. Teachers can provide students with information about STEM programs, and Drake State as well.”

Public schools in Madison County form a crucial component of Huntsville’s knowledge economy. Programs like NASA’s MUREP, and collaborations with local educational institutions like Drake State, ensure that more residents of Madison County have the opportunity to participate in Rocket City’s stellar future.