Fort Worth Academy Teacher Wins National Award

Lauren Parker, a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Fort Worth Academy in Fort Worth, has been recognized for her knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm in science and space education with the first-ever Tony So Excellence in Education Award.

Named to honor Magnitude.io co-founder Tony So, who also served as the president and executive director of Summer.org and the co-founder and product technologist for Xtronx, the award is given by the ISS (International Space Station) National Lab Education Team to recognize an individual’s devotion to education and humble persona.

Mrs. Parker testing student lander designs during Fort Worth Academy’s Space Week.
Image courtesy of Lauren Parker.

When it comes to science and education, Mrs. Parker’s extensive experience is matched by her infectious enthusiasm. She uses both, as well as her abundant creativity, to facilitate Fort Worth Academy’s annual “Space Week.” During this yearly event, she leads a faculty committee in the creation of a massive inflatable space station that students can enter and study while they contemplate the constraints of living and working in space. When asked “Why study space?” she will gladly tell you that, “The principles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation–so important to the learning at Fort Worth Academy–are all found throughout space science. Many of those who started simply dreaming of space have gone on to become the achievers and doers of the space science community. To this day, space continues to be a topic of wonder and amazement for all of us. That’s why it is so exciting that we’re able to bring that wonder and amazement down to Earth for all our students, from kindergarten to eighth-grade.”

“In addition, teaching with space, not just about space, gives us the opportunity to show our students real-life applications of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Simply think of the air filter problem as shown in the movie Apollo 13–every one of these skills was needed to keep the astronauts safe. The Project-Based Learning approach at Fort Worth Academy helps build these skills in our students. We know they will face countless problems in the future. Building these problem-solving skills now will help them be ready!”

An essential part of Fort Worth Academy’s Space Week is the chance for students to learn and study inside the school’s own inflatable space station.
Image courtesy of Fort Worth Academy.

Known for her passion, persistence, and kindness, Mrs. Parker is also respected for her knowledge and expertise. She has participated in numerous professional development opportunities such as Texas Space Grant Consortium’s Liftoff, NASA’s Professional Development Collaborative, Space Academy, and Advanced Space Academy for Educators. She also serves as a member of NASA Space Center Houston’s Space Education Educator Crew, is a Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador, and participated as part of the Fulbright Japan Teacher Exchange program. She has been recognized by Fort Worth Academy as a Molly Stinson-West Distinguished Alumni Award winner.

What’s more, she even facilitated an in-flight education downlink with the ISS for Fort Worth Academy students, connecting them with astronauts aboard the space station for a live question-and-answer session about living and working in space.

As a principal investigator for Magnitude.io’s ExoLab experiment, Mrs. Parker has participated in the last five missions and recently wrapped up ground trials to participate in ExoLab 10. In this mission, she and her students experiment with a combination of soil types, growing mediums, and simulated regolith to determine which combination will result in the optimal growth of alfalfa plants. As a principal investigator, Parker, along with her students, provide valuable research, data, and insight that contribute to citizen science that will be useful as humankind continues in its efforts to be a space-faring species.

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, Lauren Parker and Ted Tagami at ISSRDC 2022.
Image courtesy of Laurie DeWitt/Pure Light Images.

When asked what this award means to her, Mrs. Parker says, “I am beyond honored to be the first recipient of this award named for a man with contagious curiosity and enthusiasm. It was a privilege to work with Tony on ExoLab missions. He is greatly missed, but I am better for having known him and his passion for inspiring students. I strive to continue his legacy with my students and colleagues.”