Laura Tomlin teaches 6th Grade at Salado Middle School, about 45 miles north of Austin, Texas. Salado is a small rural community, and it is Laura’s goal to have permanent, robust STEM programs in their schools.
Laura has taught middle school science for 12 years, incorporating a strong space component the last six years. Laura is busy year-round with her students, coordinating a school-wide fall STEM festival, spring science fair, and multiple STEM field trips for her students. The school also are part of the Workforce in Training (WIT) program through Texas A&M Nuclear Science.
Over the last few years, Laura’s students have had the opportunity to participate in programs such as NASA WEAR Challenge NASA SPARX Challenge, an ARISS contact with the International Space Station, and the Zero-G Embedded Teacher Program.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Texas Tech University, and a Masters in Science in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Teaching is a second career for Laura as she didn’t start working in education until her 40th birthday. Prior to teaching, Laura was a research biologist in California, where she worked statewide with vegetable and fruit growers on insect and disease issues.
Laura has presented several times at Space Exploration Educators Conference, as well as attending LiftOff / LiftOff Alumni Institutes at Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers. She is a new member of the Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program.
