Citrus Educators Launch into New Opportunities at 2025 SPACE Conference

“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” – President John F. Kennedy

On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy stood before the nation at Rice University and boldly declared, “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” These words did more than define a space program—they ignited a national spirit of innovation, courage, and relentless pursuit of the unknown.

That same spirit continues to shape Florida’s identity today. For more than 75 years, the Sunshine State’s history, economy, and culture have been deeply intertwined with space exploration and the aerospace industry. Many of us remember the heroes of The Right Stuff—watching Neil Armstrong take humanity’s first steps on the Moon, witnessing the first and many launches of the Space Shuttle, and now observing a new era of space innovation unfold with Artemis, SpaceX, and Blue Origin. Florida has long served as the launchpad for the nation’s boldest ambitions beyond Earth. And now, its classrooms—especially those in Citrus County—are preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, innovators, and skilled technicians to take us even farther.

This month the Citrus County School Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Space Florida to formally establish a Space Florida Academy within the district’s CTE and STEM programs. This partnership allows Citrus Schools to unify and promote their existing offerings under the Space Academy banner, helping position Citrus County as a statewide player in aerospace education.

This past week, five Citrus County educators proudly joined that ongoing mission by participating in the 2025 Space Port Area Conference for Educators (SPACE), held at The Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center. Alongside peers from across the country, they experienced immersive professional development designed to bring the excitement of space science directly into their classrooms. Made possible through the generous support of The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, The Center for Space Education, and a private grant from the Citrus County Education Foundation, this opportunity empowered local educators to connect students with the future of aerospace and STEM careers.

The multi-day conference featured hands-on STEM curriculum training, keynote sessions with astronauts, launch directors, and industry leaders, and expert-led professional development. Our Citrus delegation represented a wide range of STEM and CTE (Career and Technical Education) disciplines: Dr. Ashley Shidner (Science, IB Coordinator, Lecanto High School), MSgt Eric Brown, USAF (Aerospace, JROTC, Citrus High School), Angela Hamilton (Computer Science & Robotics, Citrus High School), William Linthwaite (Drafting & Architecture, Crystal River High School), and Megan Richardson (District Science Specialist).

The SPACE Conference offered an exceptional blend of interactive workshops and exclusive access to NASA’s most iconic facilities. Teachers engaged in hands-on activities designed to directly enhance classroom learning—ranging from ISS simulations and water rocketry to lunar robotics using LEGO® Spike Prime. These experiences allowed educators to explore project-based approaches that bring physics, coding, engineering, and problem-solving to life for their students.

Dr. Shidner shared, “Visiting NASA and participating in SPACE 2025 was an incredible experience! We had the opportunity to hear powerful lessons that we can bring back to our classrooms and schools. It reminded me of the importance of curiosity and innovation as well as the endless opportunities we can create for our Citrus County students to shape their own futures.”

Sessions like “ISS Mimic EDU” and “Lunar Robotics” immersed educators in real-world simulations and collaborative problem-solving, strengthening both 21st-century learning and workforce readiness. In addition to classroom resources, participants left with renewed inspiration and innovative strategies to spark student engagement.

Megan Richardson noted, “This has been an AMAZING opportunity to see behind the scenes and learn from educators and space science specialists! We are coming home with lots of new STEM ideas for Citrus County Schools.”

The experience extended beyond workshops. Educators toured NASA’s Launch and Landing Facility, the colossal Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Crawler Transporter 2, and Launch Complex 39B—gaining rare insight into the complex infrastructure supporting human spaceflight. These legendary locations, typically closed to the public, gave teachers a firsthand look at the systems and people powering today’s space missions.

William Linthwaite expressed, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Space Port Area Conference for Educators. It sparked some exciting ideas I’m eager to bring back and apply in my classroom.”

Angela Hamilton, who leads robotics and Academy of Computer Science instruction at Citrus High School, was particularly inspired by the integration of real-world technology in space missions.

For JROTC instructor MSgt Eric Brown, the conference was nothing short of transformational, “I must admit, it has been a while since I was ‘geeked out’ with everything I experienced. The amazing tours, the STEM-based professional development sessions, and the interactions with my fellow peers and space industry professionals—I am awestruck and excited to see the Space Florida–Space Academy Program launch within our district. This experience further ignited my passion for aerospace education, providing me with additional resources to help guide my cadets into higher orbits and spark interest in high-demand careers in aviation and space exploration.”

These experiences are more than inspirational—they’re part of a larger strategic vision. They directly support Citrus County Schools’ commitment to expanding workforce readiness and career-focused education. This initiative also complements the district’s Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant, awarded last year, which is currently funding expansions in high school welding and machining programs. By incorporating aerospace and aviation into this broader CTE framework, Citrus students gain access to hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and real-world experiences in high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, construction, logistics, and semiconductors.

The momentum from the 2025 SPACE Conference is just the beginning. These five dedicated educators return home with cutting-edge tools, reinvigorated passion, and a powerful vision for inspiring students to pursue bold futures—on Earth and beyond.

Thanks to the continued support of local and national partners, Citrus County Schools are leading the way in preparing students for high-wage, essential, and future-ready careers—and for missions that may one day reach the stars.

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