ABOUT THE LEADERS

Rene Flores is the NASA representative who is coordinating details between site locations and the ISS. Mr. Flores was previously with NASA Digital Learning Network and now working as an education specialist with Johnson Space Center. His expertise in coordinating communications prior to the downlink as well as the actual downlink are invaluable.

Neme Alperstein has taught fifth grade for more than 20 years at Harry Eichler School in New York City in Queens County, New York. She has been named NYC Teacher of the Year (2000), NTTI-WNET Thirteen's Teacher of the Year (2000), Bertelsmann Innovative Teacher of the Year (2003) and a 2007 Cable in the Classroom's Leaders in Learning finalist. Since 1999 she and her students have received various awards through ThinkQuest NYC, from which Ms. Alperstein was also selected Veteran Coach of the Year in 2006.

Ms. Alpertien is the Project Director of the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center's videoconferencing program, a unique after school program that connects Queens’ area students with other students in distant areas. In August of 2007 One Stop took part in another ISS communication project; a live audio connection using a telebridge through Amateur Radio, a sort of telephone-to-radio conversation between students and the ISS astronauts. Ms. Alperstein's enthusiasm continues to inspire programs that offer students unique opportunities and experience, many of which would otherwise not be available to them.

Pamela Leestma has been an elementary teacher for 33 years, 28 of those at Valley Christian Elementary in Bellflower, CA. She has been a fan of space study and exploration since first looking through a telescope in the 2nd grade. Interest in space exploration was a family affair; her cousin David Leestma is a NASA astronaut who has flown in the Space Shuttle three times.

Ms. Leestma incorporates her love of Space into her curriculum. In 2002 she attended a NEWMAST NASA workshop at Edwards AFB in California. This gave her the inspiration to develop a program promoting global friendship. Lessons were shared with teachers and students in the United States and Turkey through emailing and videoconferencing using NASA’s Distant Learning Network. This resulted in three summer trips to Space Camp Turkey in Izmir, Turkey. While in Turkey for two of those summers, she helped organize a ham radio downlink with the astronauts in the International Space Station where the campers asked questions to the astronauts.

Ms. Leestma was a part time flight director at the Challenger Learning Center in Carson, CA for seven years, and a board member of the Orange County Space Society. In March of 2005 the X-Rocket’s new “Teacher in Space” program, provided a flight in a MIG 21.

In 2006, she authored answers for the education chapter in the book "Kid’s to Space, A Space Traveler’s Guide" by Lonnie Jones Schorer. In this book children from all over America and Canada sent in 18,000 questions about space and 84 experts answered them.

THE SUPPORT TEAM

Thanks to the following people for their contributions on the Downlink effort:

NASA Coordinator - Rene Flores

Education Leaders - Neme Alperstein, Pam Leestma

Project, Site and Technical Planning - Lynn Komadina, Tim Greenwood, Simcha Waisman, Elizabeth Lebowitz, Tim Sullivan, Jim Hess, Vickie Boekestein, Bonita Coleman

Conference locations: Richmond Hill Community Center, Richmond Hill, Queens County, NY, Bellflower Community Center, Bellflower, Los Angeles County, CA