#USA #Crayola #Cape Canaveral #Blue Origin #Creativity Week

Celebrating the Spark of Creativity in Education

In a remarkable gathering at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, an initiative aimed at recognizing and promoting creativity in education honored twelve extraordinary teachers from across the United States. This celebration, orchestrated by Blue Origin's nonprofit Club for the Future, alongside Crayola and Space4All, underscores the significant role of creativity in inspiring students toward space-related careers.

The initiative, dubbed Creativity Launches the Future, is part of a broader campaign aligning with Crayola Creativity Week, a global event designed to provide schools, families, and libraries with enriching content that highlights the transformative power of creativity in education. The twelve honorees were not just celebrated for their teaching prowess, but for their roles as visionaries aiming to launch the next generation of explorers.

The Honorees

The recipients of this year’s award included:

• - Jo McKinney - Hammond Creek Middle School, Dalton, GA
• - Abigail Driskell - Blackwell Elementary School, Marietta, GA
• - Nicole Mercado - Navigator Academy of Leadership, Davenport, FL
• - Cori Jo Duncan - Orin Smith Elementary School, Chehalis, WA
• - Andrea Godsey - Creek View Elementary, Alabaster, AL
• - Brooke Parris - Meadow School, Benson, NC
• - Dawn Baughman - Hilltop Heritage, Tacoma, WA
• - Norman Jensen - Las Cruces Public Schools - Challenger Learning Center, NM
• - Christine Shafer - Jasper Elementary, Jasper, IN
• - Edward Nichols - Hillcrest Elementary School, North Bend, OR
• - Gerardo Banuelos - Rosewood Park STEAM Academy, City of Commerce, CA
• - Brianna Hand - Village Oaks Elementary, Novi, MI

These educators gathered for an inspiring tour filled with knowledge and resources, emphasizing the significance of their roles in fostering a love for learning and creativity. As part of the initiative, each teacher received $1,000 worth of Crayola products to support continued creativity-driven education in their classrooms.

Empowering Educators

Heather Nelson, Director of Club for the Future, expressed the initiative’s goals: ”This year's winners are more than educators—they're visionaries launching the next generation of explorers and innovators through STEAM.” This initiative not only acknowledges and celebrates the impact these teachers have on their students but also aims to increase confidence in their ability to creatively teach space-related topics.

Cheri Sterman, Senior Director of Education at Crayola, added, ”We are honored to recognize these incredible educators who creatively lead their communities and spark a love of learning in their students.” She emphasized the commitment of Crayola to support educators and promote creativity as a fundamental skill necessary for children's success in any career path.

A Global Impact

The selected educators were chosen from a pool of nominations submitted by parents and community members during the annual Crayola Creativity Week, which this year reached over 820,000 teachers and 13.2 million students worldwide. The event included virtual sessions featuring renowned creative talents, equipping educators and parents with essential tools to nurture children’s creativity.

Crayola Creativity Week is part of the brand's Campaign for Creativity, advocating for creativity as an essential skill necessary for future success.

For more insights about the initiative and available resources, visit Crayola’s Creativity Week and for additional space resources, check out Club for the Future.

This celebration of creativity in education exemplifies how honoring educators and promoting creative thinking can ignite passion and innovation in the next generation.