Peter Tlusty’s first interest in space took place when he was in elementary school watching the Saturn V lifting off sending men to the moon during the Apollo program. He received a degree in Early Childhood Education from Marymount University and began his teaching career. He currently teaches technology and engineering design to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students. Along with teaching computer skills, STEM education is a big part of his curriculum. He attends professional development opportunities through NASA’s education initiative and uses NASA and space content in his classroom regularly. He is a member of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and the Civil Air Patrol as an educator and uses materials and content provided by both. He has had several student’s experiments travel to space through the Cubes in Space program. He has mentored several teams competing in the American Rocketry Challenge and the NASA Student Launch Challenge. His students have listened to deep space through the GAVRT radio telescope program. Mr. Tlusty also serves as a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. As an SSA, he gives presentations about the latest NASA happenings as well as giving demonstrations at STEM events and teacher conferences. Through the Solar System Ambassador program and the Richmond Astronomical Society (which he is also a member), he conducts and assists in regular astronomy nights and sky viewing events. Mr. Tlusty is a firm believer of hands-on and project-based learning. He is a big advocate of STEM education and on any given day in his classroom you would see students designing, building, or testing a rocket, rover, satellite, Barbie Dream House, kite, plane, glider, game, candy dispenser, boat, car, or telescope in solving a problem presented in an engineering design challenge. Outside of teaching, Mr. Tlusty ran a home improvement contracting business, was a musician in soul music and jazz bands, built hand-crafted furniture, and worked with thoroughbred racehorses. Mr. Tlusty is married with two grown children and two retired racing greyhounds.