Return to Headlines

Marshall Elementary Teacher Selected for NASA LiftOff Institute

Photo of woman astronaut. I Am #NASABound to Johnson Space Center for #LiftOff2024! Thank You.

Liles Puleo, an Advanced Academic Programs teacher from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, has been selected for the prestigious LiftOff Summer Institute this summer. This nationally competitive program sponsored by NASA’s Texas Space Grant Consortium and the University of Texas Center for Space Research selects teachers who will increase their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math through space education.

Liftoff 2024’s theme is Growing on Earth for Space Exploration! The workshops provide teachers with the rare – and for most, unique – opportunity to spend a week working with professional scientists and engineers at the cutting edge of space exploration. As human space exploration advances, so should our knowledge and expertise to grow plants on long-duration space missions, on the Moon, and on other planets. Participants will increase their understanding of specialized environments for growth and development on Earth, in microgravity, and beyond!

LiftOff is a collaborative effort between the University of Texas Center for Space Research, Texas Space Grant Consortium members and affiliates, NASA, and industry. Teachers apply for LiftOff and are selected competitively. The workshops are organized around an aerospace or space science theme drawn from NASA’s diverse engineering and scientific research programs. The weeklong institute features a series of workshops, hands-on activities, field investigations, and presentations by NASA scientists and engineers working on various missions.

Liles Puleo's selection for the LiftOff Summer Institute is a testament to her dedication to STEM education and her commitment to fostering a love of science and exploration in her students. The Christina School District and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School congratulate Liles Puleo on this well-deserved achievement and look forward to the positive impact her participation in the LiftOff Summer Institute will have on our school community.