At 11:38 a.m. on January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after launch. All seven astronauts aboard were lost, including Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher from New Hampshire chosen to be the first civilian to fly in space as part of NASA’s Teacher in Space Project. She had planned to teach lessons from orbit, sharing the wonder of space with students across the country.
Courtesy: NASA
Also aboard Challenger were astronauts Dick Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Gregory Jarvis.
I don’t remember if my fifth-grade class was scheduled to watch Christa’s lesson live, but I do remember coming in from recess and hearing the news on the radio. Our teacher took us to the library to watch the coverage on TV. I’m not sure how long we stayed, but that moment—like it was for so many—has stayed with me ever since.
Christa McAuliffe was born Sharon Christa Corrigan on September 2, 1948, in Boston. She was the oldest of five children. Her mother was a substitute teacher, and her father was an accountant.
She earned a degree in education and history from Framingham State College in 1970, the same year she married Steven McAuliffe. They had two children, Scott and Caroline, and lived near Washington, D.C., while Steven attended law school.
Christa later completed a master’s degree in education from Bowie State University. In 1985, she was chosen from more than 11,000 applicants to join the Challenger crew as the first teacher in space. After the explosion, she was laid to rest in her hometown of Concord, New Hampshire.
In 2012, Wichita Public Schools joined more than 40 schools worldwide in honoring her memory by naming a new K–8 school Christa McAuliffe Academy. The school board voted unanimously to adopt the name.
When the school opened that August, The Wichita Eagle reported that families were impressed by its design, which included three classroom wings, an 800-seat auditorium, science labs, a large gym, and a long, wide main hallway.
Today, Christa McAuliffe Academy offers a wide range of opportunities for students. All elementary students explore STEM, art, music, P.E., library, and Spanish. Middle school students build on the core subjects—math, English, science, and social studies—and can choose electives like robotics, choir, orchestra, technology, creative writing, and leadership (JROTC).
The school honors its namesake by encouraging curiosity, learning, and a spirit of discovery in every student who walks through its doors.
To learn more about Wichita’s Schools check out: Be True To Your School
You must be logged in to post a comment.