Mrs. Blackburn holds undergraduate degrees in science, psychology and child and family studies from Lander University and graduate degrees from RICE and University of Houston in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, and Curriculum and Instruction. She began her career as a Counselor working in ER admissions and as a Child Play Therapist. She served as a school liaison for the Texas Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) where she worked closely with school administration. She was a school teacher in Galveston ISD in Texas for more than 10 years. She was on the Southeast Regional Texas Magnet Planning Committee which introduced her into STEM Education in 2006. She began accepting contract work with several institutions in 2009. These contracts increased her knowledge in STEM Education. Mrs. Blackburn joined the UTMB Office of Educational Outreach as the Assistant Director and STEM Coach and works with the Southeast Regional Texas-STEM Center as a Mentor Teacher and STEM PD Facilitator. Mrs. Blackburn became a Texas Regional Collaborative (TRC) Mathematics and Computer Science Director in 2016. UTMB and the TRC provides Mrs. Blackburn with an avenue to continue working in schools and aiding teachers to integrate 21st Century Skills, Project Based Learning and STEM Practices that will benefit our future. In this role, she oversees several schools, districts and community colleges in a statewide effort to improve teaching and learning, career and college readiness, student support services, teacher and administrative coaching, and projects focused on promoting equity in STEM education.
Sessions in which Valerie Blackburn participates
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- ERC
Session
Lisa Richardson, Clear Brook High School in Clear Creek ISD (Participant)
Valerie Blackburn, Blackburn STEM Ed. Consulting (Participant)
Sessions in which Valerie Blackburn attends
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Main Plaza
Session
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Space Center Theater
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Space Center Theater
Keynote
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Astronaut Gallery - Lunch 1
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Saturn Club
Session
Daniel Newmyer, Space Center Houston (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Destiny Theater
Session
Akiko Kojima, Takashi Elementary School (Participant)
Miho Hiromoto, Hibarinohoiku Ishigakinoie (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Space Center Theater
Keynote
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Destiny Theater
Session
Sarah Quasny, NASA (Participant)
Lorie Hammerstrom, Quincy Public Schools (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Astronaut Gallery - Lunch 1
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- ERC
Session
Barb Gosney, Paradise ValleyUSD (Participant)
Tara Oakes, Houston Museum of Natural Science (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Destiny Theater
Session
Jennifer Becerra, NASA Johnson Space Center Intenship office (Participant)
Celina Terrones, Scobee Education Center (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Main Plaza
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- Lab 1
Session
Karla Smith, Dallas Independent School District (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Astronaut Gallery - Lunch 1
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- Lab 4
Session
Mr. Brian Ewenson, Spaceport Sheboygan (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Space Center Theater
Keynote