Government Schools Stretch To The Stars

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 23, 1998

Sven Wright Learning Curve

J EANETTE Rothapfel, a science teacher at Kurri Kurri High School, was one of this year's 59 winners of the Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching, announced on International Teacher's Day, October 30.

Her citation reads: `Jeanette Rothapfel has provided dedicated service to both teachers and students in the provision of Space Education at school, district, State, national and international levels. She has forged a very important link between space travel and Science Education in Australia.'

Jeanette is proud of the recognition the award has brought to her work. She is quick to emphasise that without a public education system that allowed her to pursue her passion it would have been impossible.

Her story is an example of how public education encourages highly committed teachers to go the extra mile for their students.

Jeanette believes that space science is more than just a collection of scientific topics like astronomy and astrophysics. She believes that because space science holds a natural fascination for many students it is an ideal way for children to be encouraged in science and learning generally.

Space Science covers many other topics, including physics, maths, English and history.

In 1992, Jeanette was selected to take part in the first Australian International Space School in Sydney, where she now lectures. The school is a one week residential course for a hundred Year 10 students who receive lectures from scientists, astronauts and astronomers. The School is funded by a private non-profit organisation, the Centre for Australian Space Education.

One year later she became the Principal of the School ? a position she still holds ? and represented Australia at the International Space Camp in Alabama, where science teachers and educators, astronauts and scientists from around the world meet to exchange ideas.

In 1994, Jeanette was awarded an Educational Fellowship from the Department of Education and Training that has enabled her to secure her international contracts, particularly with NASA, whose sites she visits each year.

Jeanette teaches space science to everyone from pre-schoolers to teachers, from two hours to several days at a time, at small schools and national conferences. She has worked with the Hunter Orthopaedic School and is a member of the Australian astronomers' peak professional body. She has taught the Junior Friends of the Newcastle Regional Museum and attended both space launches of Australia's astronaut, Andy Thomas, in 1996 and this year.

Jeanette is about to publish two books on space science, one for Years 5-8 and a resource book for teachers, and has written two more.

In April, next year, she will have established the NSW Space School at Newcastle University, with support from the University and sponsorship.

Jeanette's dedication is obvious. The public education system has enabled the Principal at Kurri Kurri High School, the Maitland District Superintendent and many others to support Jeanette so she can translate her commitment into opportunities for hundreds of students and teachers at home and overseas.