NASA established an Educational Programs and Services office for northern California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana in August 1963. The office expanded in 1972, to include southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. The Office's primary mission was to serve on-site and in the field K-12 public, private and parochial teachers and students, and provide teacher training at the university level. Field trips, workshops, lecture series, conferences that included launches, landings, and mission discoveries involving scientists, engineers and curriculum specialists were conducted in cooperation with professional societies, universities, industry and other government agencies. Accreditation for the programs was the norm, if possible.

Image to right: NASA's Education Program strives to engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery. Credit: NASA

Services included the distribution of curriculum supplements, films, exhibits, lunar rocks, and planetarium programs. A teacher resource center was established at Ames Research Center, along with a network of centers in each site normally associated with a university. In addition to informing teachers regarding NASA accomplishments and future plans, the office helped other NASA education offices better understand the unique research contributions Ames contributed to the NASA mission.

Students were primarily served by school visitation programs throughout the region, which were coordinated through State Departments of Education. The one-day visits included auditorium programs, classroom visits and after-school teacher sessions. At the Center, general and specialized tours were offered for grades four and above to include university students. Work-study programs involved research-oriented high school students throughout the school year.

Education Office personnel served on boards of directors for several Bay area and regional professional societies. In addition, they were continually involved in addressing school groups, service clubs, professional societies and radio and television audiences.

Meet Our Team

Manager, Higher Education Programs
Ms. Brenda J. Collins
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Manager, Elementary and Secondary Education Programs
Mr. Thomas B. Clausen
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Manager, Informal Education Programs
Ms. Laura A. Shawnee
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Information Specialist
Ms. Mary Valleau CPS
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Office Manager
Ms. Becky L. Getz
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