CHRONICLE: New NASA project to bring Kennedy Space Center to schools

Thank you to Education Reporter Georgia Sullivan and the Citrus County Chronicle for covering this initiative. Read the story at https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/education/new-nasa-project-to-bring-kennedy-space-center-to-schools/article_77dab226-1735-5b1f-b7f8-c7d3e30d9b69.html

I am so excited about this Mission One STEAM initiative and the opportunities that will follow for all of Florida’s students, especially ours here in Citrus County. The initiative’s access to NASA and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation Educational Center will provide extraordinary opportunities for students and teachers. One of the many things I love about the approach of this program is that it looks to interconnect STEM with Career and Technical/workforce education. Many industries, including the aerospace industries, have long recognized the importance of having team members who are knowledgeable technicians who come from all educational paths including technical certification institutions, programs, and our Armed Forces. Citrus County Schools is proud of its role in helping produce some of these experts including former Citrus Schools Alumni Dr. Eric Stewart Aerospace Engineer at NASA. It is my hope that this new program will further expand the desire for more engineers, technicians, and scientists from Citrus County.

A special thank you to Matt Susin, Brevard County School Board for his work launching this project.

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CRHS Alumni Takes Command of USS Florida

Bravo Zulu Capt. Roussakies!

KINGS BAY, GA, UNITED STATES 05.20.2022 Photo by Chief Petty Officer Ashley Berumen Commander, Submarine Group Ten. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ashley Berumen

This past week the US Navy announced that Capt. John Roussakies will be the incoming commanding officer of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728). Capt. Roussakies was a Crytal River High School graduate from the 1990s who was an active member in the CRHS Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Bravo Zulu Capt. Roussakies!

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Veterans in the Classroom Appreciation Luncheon

One of the special programs we have in Citrus County Schools is our Veterans in the Classroom. This program is 29 years old and has impacted nearly 100,000 students during that time. The program brings U.S. States former Military Servicemen and women to speak to students in our school’s classrooms. This is one of the largest programs like it (per capita) in the nation.

This year over 4,000 students in all our elementary, middle, and high schools had one of the 53 Veterans from the program speak to the students about their military service. They share about the work they did in the military, how it helped contribute to becoming the person they are, and the love of our great country. The students of all ages are so fascinated by the stories and information these amazing Veterans talk about.

During today’s Appreciation luncheon hosted by the Citrus County School District, the Veterans receive a lunch prepared by the Withlacoochee Technical College Culinary students, the Citrus High School (CHS) AJROTC Honor Guard presented “The Colors”, and the CHS Chorale and students from Pleasant Grove Elementary provided some wonderful entertainment. One of the most moving parts of the Appreciation event is one by one they go around the room and give each attending Veteran the opportunity to introduce themselves, tell about their military service and their experience teaching in the Veterans in the Classroom program. It is so moving. The message each of these men and women share about their life often bonds them as brothers and sisters in arms. It is also evident the love these men and women have for our country, the VIC program, and our students. Col. Curt Ebitz, U.S. Army (Retired) and Adjutant Officer and Historian for the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart shared that he has been doing this since the beginning of the program (29 years).

God Bless each and every Veteran that gives of themselves to this great program. Thank you to Al Balk, District Instructional Specialist for Social Studies K-12 who coordinates the Veterans in the Classroom with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

If you are a Veteran interested in becoming a participant in the next Veterans in the Classroom program, please contact Mr. Balk at 352-726-1931 ext. 2490 or balka@citrusschools.org or contact Citrus County MOAA – https://moaafl.org/chapters/citruscounty/.

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