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.”

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To prepare for the event, students are watching videos and participating in a variety of other classroom activities to learn more about the different aspects of living in space, such as how astronauts sleep and eat. In addition, Fort Worth Academy Middle School Science teacher Lauren Parker is collecting student questions for the astronauts about life aboard the space station and scientific research in space. Ms. Parker is a NASA Solar System Ambassador, a member of the space educator expedition crew with Space Center Houston, and a member of the principle investigator team for Magnitude.io ExoLab, planning experiments and developing curriculum around the International Space Station.

She explains, “Every year, Fort Worth Academy students hold a ‘Space Week’ as part of our advanced academic STEAM curriculum. Students in all grades, from kindergarten to eighth grade, complete experiential lessons to learn about the challenges of conducting research in space as well as its importance to us here at home. The opportunity to speak with astronauts in space will add further immediacy and authenticity to their learning.” In fact, seventh and eighth graders currently have research experiments on board the International Space Station and, on the day of the downlink, students will present the results of their research to a panel of scientists and community leaders.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides a unique experience designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA’s extensive space station-related resources and opportunities to students and educators.

Founded in 1982, Fort Worth Academy is a learning environment that cultivates leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in its students through a distinctive E.L.I. (entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation) Initiative. It is the only private K through 8 school in Fort Worth; and it offers advanced academics, personalized instruction, Project-Based Learning, expert teachers, small class sizes, and school-wide technology integration.

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The Academy offers a unique focus on project-based learning, character skills development, and ELI: entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Classes are small, with a maximum of 15 students per class and 30 per grade. Kindergartners through 8th graders share one campus and are part of the same community.

This K-8 format may be unfamiliar for many in the Fort Worth area who are used to seeing a separate junior high school. But this configuration has numerous benefits. Teachers know the children well and can support their individual learning styles. Students don’t have to change campuses (and often friends) at the same time that they encounter the perilous middle school years. Older students heading towards high school gain crucial confidence by becoming leaders and role models for younger children.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Academy

“Your kids don’t get stuck in the middle,” explains Shannon Elders, Head of School at Fort Worth Academy since the beginning of the 2017 school year. She knows from personal experience; her daughter attends the school and her son recently graduated from 8th grade. “Students end up being quite aware of how to be a leader when they leave here. They’re more independent because of the process that they go through in order to enter high school. They can leave here and be successful.”

Fort Worth Academy has also been recognized nationally for its ELI Initiative, which teaches the principles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. This forward-thinking approach empowers students to address the challenges of an ever-changing world, and is fully integrated into the school’s curriculum at each grade level.

The school’s faculty is also highly trained on interactive, project-based learning. “Our students are not just receivers of information,” shares Elders. “They are thinkers and doers. You will not see our students sitting there passively, listening to a teacher give them information from a textbook. Our education is very much an active, collaborative effort. It’s like an exploration every day.”

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Academy

Collaboration is big at the Academy, which is home to four “collaboratories” – large, open spaces where kids can learn actively and get loud. Recently they tackled a far-out project together: how to survive on the planet Mars. After reading the book The Martian, groups of students had to problem-solve through various scenarios in order to “survive” on the Red Planet (just like Matt Damon in the movie). Working around a giant map of Mars’ topography, they built rovers, equipped their habitats, and dealt with unexpected obstacles. They vlogged (video blogged) the entire experience. The two teachers who developed the concept were asked to speak about it at the Space Exploration Educators Conference at NASA’s Space Center Houston.

Collaborative projects like this also help students to develop “soft skills” – important social and emotional skills that build character and are essential for success. “I’m big into the soft skills,” says Elders. “You have to have grit and perseverance. You have to have optimism and gratitude. You have to be able to collaborate and communicate. They are naturally cultivated here because of how we set up the learning.”

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Academy

Fort Worth’s independent high schools are taking notice. Academy students are highly sought-after applicants and 99% are accepted at their first choice of high school. “The schools are very eager to have our kids because they know they’re going to do well. Our graduates end up being the leaders of the pack.”

Are you interested to learn more about sending your child to Fort Worth Academy? Visit the website for additional information and reach out to schedule your tour at 817.370.1191 or admissions@fwacademy.org.

Shilo Urban lives for adventure, loves dogs, and reads books like it’s going out of style (which it is). She writes about music, food, art, design, events, and travel – all the good stuff. Raised in the Fort Worth area, Shilo moved to Austin, Maine, Paris, Seattle, New Zealand, and Los Angeles before finding her way home a few years ago. Along the way, she has had over three dozen different jobs, including high school French teacher, record label manager, and farmhand for endangered livestock breeds. She’s traveled to more than 50 countries and always has the next trip planned. Shilo has been a freelance writer for over a decade and has published in Fort Worth Magazine, Fort Worth Weekly, and Afar. Her interests include lost civilizations, jalapeño peppers, and Game of Thrones. She is currently writing a thriller and lives in Fort Worth with her two wiener dogs, Steve and Lenny.

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