Local teachers receive aviation education at ATL via the Flying Classroom

The Flying Classroom partnered with ATL and local instructors for aviation education Nov. 17. Photos by DeKalb County School District

By Anika Robertson
Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager

More than 30 DeKalb County teachers recently took off on a journey at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to engage in an innovative aviation education program for classroom instruction.

The full-day, hands-on expedition was designed to enrich lessons of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program through interaction with aviation experts, tours and group interaction.

On Nov. 17, teachers and instructional leaders from K-12 met with Capt. Barrington Irving, Flying Classroom founder, and senior ATL officials for the inaugural program. Hartsfield-Jackson participants included interim Chief Financial Officer Greg Richardson, Assistant General Manager Cortez Carter, Senior Asset Manager Aaron Davis, Atlanta Fire Capt. Jerome Martin and FAA government information specialist Linda Chatman. They presented information in each of their respective areas. Innovations manager Doug Strachan served as the expedition’s tour guide.

Irving believes the Flying Classroom provides access to aviation education to help children set and reach goals.

“For [students], the Flying Classroom has always aimed to inspire and introduce them to places, careers and concepts that they may not frequently encounter,” Irving said. “I want students to develop skills for creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking that will lead to their success in any career field. We introduce them to careers, places and problems both locally and globally with the mission of inspiring them to dream big, even if their dream is different and abstract, because the world needs all dreamers, innovators and problem solvers.”

Organized by the Office of Community Affairs, the expedition included a tour of an airfield tower, airfield space and emergency response areas. With a strong emphasis on the Flying Classroom’s digital, global flight curriculum, the knowledge gained from the day culminated in lesson development and teacher presentations, which participants will share across grade levels. Teachers are expected to implement the STEM aviation lessons by February 2017.

Community Affairs Manager Tracy Gilbert views community outreach and education at Hartsfield-Jackson as integral to future success, especially when young minds are affected.

“The Flying Classroom Teacher Expedition was another community outreach effort that was a part of the Partners in Education program,” she said. “Our goal was for teachers to understand the importance of developing STEM curriculum in the classroom, and how down the road, [it] will inspire students to seek careers in aviation.”

DeKalb County School District contributed to this report.