NASA educator astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger will visit Johnson Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Feb. 23, 2006, to share NASA's future exploration goals and her excitement about the future of space exploration. Johnson Junior High was selected as one of 50 NASA Explorer School (NES) teams for 2005 and is the only NASA Explorer School in the state of Wyoming.

As a teacher, Metcalf-Lindenburger brings a unique perspective to how classroom education can lead to exciting career opportunities in fields such as the space program. She will discuss the Vision for Space Exploration and the students' role as the next generation of explorers. Metcalf-Lindenburger will encourage students to pursue studies in math, science and technology and careers in aeronautics and space.

What: NASA Explorer School 'Launch Into Exploration' Event

When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006
9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. MST at East High School
11:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. MST at Johnson Junior High School

Who: Educator astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger

Where: Johnson Junior high School, 1238 W. Allison Rd., Cheyenne, Wyo.
East High School, 2800 E. Pershing Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyo.

Johnson Junior High School was named one of NASA's 2005 Explorer Schools in May 2005 and began the program last fall. The program is a three-year partnership with NASA.

News media interested in attending the NES event or interviewing Metcalf-Lindenburger should contact Jonas Dino at (650) 207-3280 or (650) 604-5612. Visitors are required to sign in at each school's main office to enter the campus.

In January 2003, NASA invited professional educators to join the astronaut corps to help NASA develop new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom. More than a thousand teachers stepped up to the challenge. After an extensive selection process, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, along with Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold, were selected to become NASA's newest educator astronauts.

Metcalf-Lindenburger grew up in Ft. Collins, Colo., and went to Ft. Collins High School. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in geology from Whitman College in Washington State in 1997. Before joining NASA, Metcalf-Lindenburger was a science teacher and cross country coach at Hudson's Bay High School, Vancouver, Wash.

The NASA Explorer School program is a three-year partnership, sponsored by NASA, to help educators and students join NASA's mission of discovery through educational activities and special learning opportunities tailored to promote science, mathematics and technology applications and career explorations.

During the partnership, educators have access to hands-on activities to provide their students exciting learning experiences in the science, mathematics and technology fields.

For information about the NASA Explorer Schools Program, visit:

http://explorerschools.nasa.gov

For information about NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov