Ashlie Smith instructs physical science at Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Girls located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She uses space science to encourage her students to dream big and cites inspiring young girls to develop an interest in STEM and consider STEM careers as driving passions. Smith is a TEDx speaker, Alan Shepard Technology in Education Awardee, ISS US National Lab exemplary educator, and most recently Michigan's Air Force Association Teacher of the Year and second place Air Force National Teacher of the Year. This is Smith's sixth-year facilitating the Cubes in Space program at her school. Her students have developed and launched 31 experiments to space. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, Smith has taken her passion for space science to China and taught a 10-day workshop for middle-school-aged students on the International Space Station and Mars. Most recently she has been appointed as the Michigan Air Force Association Vice President of Aerospace Education. She is thrilled to continue her journey for a fourth year as a Space Center Houston SEEC Crew member.