We’re so excited to announce that the opening keynote for the TCEA 2019 Convention & Exposition is the remarkable physician, engineer, social scientist, entrepreneur, educator, and wanna-be dancer Dr. Mae Jemison! Oh, and she also just happens to be a former NASA astronaut and the first woman of color to travel into space. Jemison is an advocate for STEM learning, and she has a powerful message to share with our 2019 attendees. Read on to learn a little about Jemison and why we’re thrilled to have her help get educators Fully Charged this February. You’ll also get a sneak peek at some of our other featured presenters.
The Sky Isn’t the Limit
Mae Jemison is not someone who sees barriers or limits. She is continually looking for ways to expand what humanity is capable of and to encourage the next generation to push even farther. Jemison served as a NASA astronaut for six years. She traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She also started the Jemison Group, a technology consulting firm that 
develops engineering and science solutions to solve critical socio-cultural issues such as using satellite technology for healthcare delivery. Jemison is an inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame. She is also a winner of the National Organization for Women’s Intrepid Award.
Jemison leads 100 Year Starship, a bold nonprofit initiated to ensure that the capabilities exist for human travel beyond our solar system to another star within the next 100 years. Of course, for these advances to happen, the next generation of learners will need to embrace STEM learning and STEM careers in a big way. Jemison has written several books to help make the ideas and concepts of the 100 Year Starship accessible to young learners.
Fostering STEM Learning
In 1994, Jemison founded the international science camp The Earth We Share. This camp is open to middle school and high school students and focuses on improving science literacy and problem-solving skills. The camp is run by the nonprofit Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, named for Jemison’s mother, a dedicated educator for 25 years. From 2011 to 2014, The Dorothy Jemison Foundation held the TEWS-Space Race which trained hundreds of middle school teachers and thousands of students in experiential science education.
Jemison is herself an educator. She was an Environmental Studies professor at Dartmouth College from 1995 through 2001, where she worked on sustainable development and technology design for the developing world.
Fun Facts About Mae Jemison
Here are a few pieces of trivia about Dr. Jemison.
- Before she was an astronaut, she served as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia. She has also worked in a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand.
- She played a role on Star Trek: The Next Generation. In fact, she was the first real astronaut to ever appear on the series.
- Jemison has a LEGO minifigure in her honor as part of the Women in NASA set. It was the fastest-selling toy in Amazon history.
More Featured Presenters
In addition to the incredible Dr. Mae Jemison, we’re thrilled to be welcoming several other featured presenters that will make the 2019 Convention one to remember.
Gerry Brooks is an educator who is known for his hilarious, and all too relatable, videos on his popular YouTube channel. He will be bringing his best tips and tricks on how to foster a positive culture in your school or classroom. And, of course, he’ll make us all laugh!
Leslie Fisher is a former Apple employee who now specializes in presenting emerging and practical technology solutions to educators all over the world.
Shannon Miller is a Future Ready Librarian spokesperson working with students, librarians, and teachers to encourage conversations around education, technology, creativity, and student voice.
Toni Robinson is passionate about helping professionals embrace change, achieve results, and step into
new possibilities. Her interactive learning experiences incorporate technology, movement, and participant expertise.
Sara Schapiro is the Vice President of Education for PBS and leads their efforts to engage with education communities to empower and support students, educators, and parents. She speaks about the transformation of education through innovation and technology.
Catlin Tucker is a Google Certified Innovator who has written several books on achieving blended learning. She also runs an internationally-ranked education blog at CatlinTucker.com.
These are just a few of the voices that will be helping educators to get Fully Charged this February. We hope you will be there too, ready to take in all that they have to share. Mark your calendars because registration opens September 13. See you in San Antonio!