Superintendent Brings History to Life at Aurora Hills

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	Picking up the PACE!

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Superintendent John L. Barry helped bring history to life for 300 eighth-graders at Aurora Hills Middle School. Barry shared his experiences investigating the Columbia Space Shuttle accident as part of the students’ discussion on whether space travel is beneficial or detrimental.

Before leading APS, Barry was the executive director and board member of the 2003 Columbia Accident Investigation Team. Teachers prepared their students for their talk with Barry by creating an inter-disciplinary unit based on space.

In social studies, students focused on the history of manned space travel. Students in science class discussed scientific reasons to go into space. In literacy classes, students focused on how to ask probing questions and how to gather information from a public speaker.


	“Superintendent Barry showed us how just a little piece of foam could break something as large as the Space Shuttle’s wing.” - Essence B. Aurora Hills student

Aurora Hills Middle School students Audreon Babb (left), Rosetta Saiz and Tyler Thomas pose with Superintendent Barry.

During the event, students took notes and asked Superintendent Barry some tough questions.


	“I liked Mr. Barry’s speech because I learned stuff from him that I wouldn’t have learned in a book.” - Saul P. Aurora Hills eighth grader

Barry also presented a commemorative coin of the NASA investigation which is on display at the school.

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