From left, Title I Interventionist Phillip O’Bryon, special education teacher Stevie Cavender, third grade teacher Audrey Hylton and fourth grade teacher Amy Stockl received training when NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility visited Jefferson Elementary Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG — Jefferson Elementary Center partnered with NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility and West Virginia University Extension to provide training for educational professionals

In an initiative to enhance both STEM education and mental health support within local schools, NASA and WVU Extension collaborated on a dual training event for teachers and community leaders. The session, held at Jefferson, showcased NASA’s commitment to STEM outreach while also providing valuable resources for handling addiction-related challenges in the classroom.

Dr. Todd Ensign, program manager at NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) facility in Fairmont, led a session focused on STEM education resources using technology kits featuring robotics. Ensign discussed a “loan and learn” program, a $2.5 million initiative that lends schools robotics kits, telescopes, and even portable planetariums, all aimed at sparking students’ interest in engineering, coding, and other STEM fields. Ensign highlighted NASA’s efforts to inspire young learners and increase diversity within the STEM field.

“What we try to provide is something above and beyond the set curriculum,” he said.

Ensign noted that underrepresented students, especially girls and those from Title I schools, often miss out on opportunities to explore science and technology.

“We want to show young women and other underrepresented students that they can succeed in these fields,” he added.

NASA’s IV&V facility offers similar workshops across West Virginia, reaching both traditional schools and organizations like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and after-school programs.

A separate training, facilitated by WVU Extension’s Gwen Crum and Jodi Smith, addressed the growing need for teachers to understand and respond to addiction-related issues affecting students and families. The training focused on how the opioid crisis has intensified the challenges teachers face, with students’ home lives often impacting their attendance and mental well-being. Crum and Smith emphasized the importance of teachers recognizing these challenges early and knowing their boundaries to avoid burnout.

“Teachers today are expected to be counselors, social workers, and psychologists on top of their regular teaching duties,” Crum said.

The WVU Extension team provides addiction awareness training not only for teachers but also for families and caregivers, aiming to foster a community-wide support network.

These training sessions underscore a dual approach to resilience, both by nurturing students’ curiosity and building community awareness around addiction. The STEM resources from NASA’s IV&V are free to educators once trained, and WVU Extension offers continual support for addiction resources in communities. For local teachers, the program offers essential tools to engage students and support their well-being.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com