Teachers of the Year:  Vice Chairman of the Board for Aerospace Education, Stephen Gourley, joined State President Cliff Klein at the State Awards Banquet to honor each Chapter’s and State Teachers of the Year (ToYs).  Each Chapter may select a Chapter Teacher of the Year and recognize all they contribute to encouraging students in the STEM programs.  Each of our Chapter ToYs received a Certificate of Excellence, a check for $250, an AFA Padfolio and a Chapter Teacher of the Year pin, plus a very special gift – a book of Medal of Honor recipients’ quotes personally autographed by Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix. Congratulations to these amazing educators!

Mel Harmon Chapter ToY:  Ms. Vicki Bower, School of Engineering and Biomedical Science at Pueblo County High School, Pueblo.  Vicki teaches medical interventions, engineering design and development and digital electronics.  She is the team director for AFA StellarXplorers program and also volunteers with the Health Occupation Student Association, a club dedicated to helping student explore careers in the medical field.  

Robert E. Huyser Chapter ToY:  Ms. Heather Hawkins, Science and Math, Bookcliff Middle School, Grand Junction.  She coaches and mentors the Math, Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA) teams and advises Student Council.   Outside of the classroom she runs BMS’ food distribution program and organizes “The Wardrobe,” a student-run resource for health and hygiene items. 

Mile High Chapter (selected two) ToYs: Mr. Kyle Barker, Computer Science/Robotics, Grandview High School.   Kyle leads the AFA CyberPatriot program for the school, coaching a team to first place in Colorado and fourth place in the national competition. He started a program for Women in STEM and started a robotics club, with one of his team’s animatronic robots placing first in the state competition.  He co-advised the Technology Student Association with five teams going to national competition.  

Mile High Chapter ToY: Ms. Mellissa Pfaff, Chemistry, Space Science, Post Secondary Prep (9-12), Academy High School, Thornton.  Mellissa is the department chair, a JROTC instructor, mentors STEM teachers, has presented about space and aerospace at the National Science Teachers Conference, Colorado Science Teachers Association Meeting, the SEEC Conference at Johnson Space Center, The International Space Symposium, and SPACE at Kennedy Space Center.

The State AFA may also recognize a State Teacher of the Year who receives a check for $500, a Certificate of Excellence, a personalized jacket and a State Teacher of the Year pin.  Congratulations to Ms. Mellissa Pfaff, selected as our AFA State Teacher of the Year.  In addition to her space and aerospace accomplishments, Mellissa is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, Space Station Explorers, Space Hipsters and the Space Liaisons.  We don’t know how she has the time, but she is also finishing up her PhD in Education.  Mellissa, we appreciate all you have done and will continue to do for our students in the arena of STEM education.