American Samoa’s territorial Teacher of the Year 2016 Mrs. Rosita Esene Sola experienced first hand what it's like to train as an astronaut, as she’s currently in Huntsville, Alabama at the International Space Camp.
Responding to Samoa News questions, Rosita said that it is an adventurous one-week experience allowing teachers to assume roles in hands-on, interactive space missions, and learn what it's like to train as an astronaut. “It offers intensive training including professional development. In addition, the facility contains space exploration sites that include shuttles, rockets, military bases and various space labs.”
She said the trip was funded by ASDOE and it’s an annual Teacher of the Year trip in the summer. “Space Camp started last week Saturday July 9, and concluded July 14.” She told Samoa News that the highlight of this summer trip was meeting the international educators at the greatest space facility in America. “So not only the State/Territorial TOYs were here, but we had the chance to collaborate with teachers from Norway, China, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, and Germany just to name a few.
“Space Camp gave me a bigger perspective on extending the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program which is integrated today in our classrooms. I learned so many things within the public education system from educators around the world. Surprisingly, I'm finding out that our education system is very fortunate to receive so many resources, especially technology-wise compared to other parts of the world. We've already integrated STEM in our lessons, and making that connection to the real world is very important.”
She said she has taught science for six consecutive years, and this is the most amazing experience she’s ever had. “We want to tell our students that space is real and there is a big world out there for them to explore. Anybody can be an astronaut and it requires hard work and sacrifice. Their imagination starts from the classroom. All we got to do is spark that interest and to motivate our students to learn hard. I get to dress up as an astronaut and go through all the missions within the shuttle”
She told Samoa News that she was given a task called Lunar Mission in one of the shuttles, where she had to switch the oxygen tank, which is used for astronauts to breathe in space. Inside the shuttle, there were small binders that contained all the instructions from flying out to space and returning. “Now I know what it feels like to work in space!” To the all educators in American Samoa, Rosita said that the teachers must remember that they make the greatest impact on the lives of the students they teach in class.
“The world values teachers because without teachers, there wouldn't be any astronauts today. In addition she said, without teachers, no other profession would exist.
“You need to keep a teacher portfolio with all the happiest things you've done in the classroom. It could be a read aloud — a debate, a class party, school project, or simple things that you love about your kids. When times are hard, you take it out and go through it. You have to tell yourself that you are important, and you could be the only person in the world that child will never forget. I look forward to share this wonderful experience with our teachers, and especially our students,” said Rosita.