4. Finding a Partner For Astronomers: Finding a Partner Teacher How to approach school personnel For Teachers: Finding a Partner Astronomer About amateur astronomers     By now you've decided you want to start a Project ASTRO partnership, but you don't have a partner. Having the interest is the first step; finding a partner may require some initiative and persistence. Even if the first person you contact does not work out, he or she may be able to refer you to the perfect person. Here are some ideas about where to begin. For Astronomers: Finding a Partner Teacher Among the ways to find a partner teacher are: 1. Make contact with an individual teacher. 2. "Network" through school personnel and other people you know. 3. Publicize your availability through written material. Making contact with an individual teacher is perhaps the best approach. Information left with school administrators can get lost before it reaches interested teachers. A good way to find the names of teachers is to start with people you know (see below) because they will have a greater interest in helping you. When you contact a teacher, explain that you want to volunteer as a Project ASTRO astronomer and describe some of what you'd like to offer. Be aware that not all teachers cover astronomy, so it may take some persistence to find a teacher who does, or wants to. Here are some suggestions about whom to approach as a first point of contact: Your child's classroom teacher or science teacher. Your friends' children's teachers, especially those who are interested in science. Classroom or science teachers in your local area (especially a neighborhood school). The principal, school counselor, or school science coordinator (if there is one) may be able to connect you with an interested teacher. County or District level Science Coordinator or Volunteer Coordinator. Contact the County or District Superintendent's office for names. A local planetarium or science center. Teachers who are interested in astronomy may be involved with special programs there. Ask for the education coordinator at these organizations. State science teachers' association (check the phone book, ask a teacher, or contact the National Science Teachers Association, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 243-7100). Ask the officers or staff of the state organization how to reach interested teachers. They may be able to pass your name along to people in your area. Science education faculty at a local university School of Education. These faculty members may be familiar with teacher professional development programs, and may be able to steer you toward a network of interested teachers. Graduates of national astronomy education programs for teachers. These teachers may be interested in working with an astronomer, or may be able to refer you to other teachers in their area. Contact the organization that runs the astronomy program for names of teachers in your area. A complete catalog of national astronomy education projects is included in The Universe at Your Fingertips. Organizations with experience running teacher education programs in astronomy include: American Astronomical Society Suite 400, 2000 Florida Avenue Washington, DC 20009 (202)328-2010 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Education Department, MS 71 60 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138 (617)495-9798 Lawrence Hall of Science Astronomy & Physics Education Program University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 NASA Teacher Resource Centers For a list of centers contact: NASA CORE Lorain County JVS 15181 Route 58 South Oberlin, OH 44074 (216)774-1051 National Science Teachers Association 1840 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 (703)243-7100 www.nsta.org Call us at Project ASTRO (415)337-1100. We may be able to connect you with a Project ASTRO expansion site, or give you the names of teachers in your area from our growing database of participants in our programs and others across the country. How to Approach School Personnel When you call or write, communicate your desire to have an ongoing relationship with the school and to have an impact on astronomy and science education. Let the teacher, counselor, or administrator know that you would like to provide ongoing enrichment to the classroom lessons (not just a one-time lecture). Describe some of the specific ways you think you can be of help, and discuss your availability and commitment. Bring a copy of the Project ASTRO How-To Manual, The Universe at Your Fingertips, and other Project ASTRO resource materials you may have to a meeting with the school principal or classroom teacher. Summarize or photocopy the brief description of Project ASTRO at the beginning of the How-To Manual. Ask what ideas the teacher, counselor, or administrator has about how you can help with astronomy and science education. Emphasize that the focus of Project ASTRO is on astronomy, but the broader goal is to help students develop enthusiasm inscience and logical reasoning skills. Follow-up with a note and phone call. Teachers and administrators get extremely busy and may have difficulty getting back to you as soon as you would like. Take it upon yourself to make follow-up contact.   (Adapted from One Small Step...An Education Outreach Resource Guide produced by AIAA and NASA)