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) - Boardroom
Session
Valerie Blackburn, Blackburn STEM Ed. Consulting (Participant)
Lisa Richardson, Clear Brook High School in Clear Creek ISD (Participant)
Sessions in which Valerie Blackburn attends
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Space Center Theater
Presentation
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) - Saturn Club
Session
MRS Maria Nickel, ISD #21 (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- Lab 2
Session
Mr. David Temple, Longview High School (Participant)
Angela Nelson, Longview High School (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) - Saturn Club
Session
Betty Bigney, Sneads Ferry Home School (Participant)
Holly Mentillo, Ocean Breeze Elementary (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Saturn Club
Session
Mrs. Sue Mercer, Civil Air Patrol (Participant)
Megan Tucker, Hillsboro Charter Academy (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Boardroom
Session
James Falletti, William D. McDowell Observatory (Participant)
Dana Mason, Henry E. Harris Community School (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- ERC
Session
Jael Martin, Space Center Houston (Participant)
Benjamin Easter, NASA - Johnson Space Center (Participant)
Kellie Arenz, Mukwonago Area School District- Park View Middle School (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Learning Innovation Center- Lab 3
Session
Cecelia McTighe (Participant)
Carlin Jacobs, Forest Lake Elementary/Richland 2 (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Astronaut Gallery- Lunch 2
Gilruth Center - Off-Site Location (take bus) - Destiny
Session
Allison Bott, NASA - Oklahoma State University (Participant)
Scott Black, NASA (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Boardroom
Session
Jodie Guillen, SEEC CREW (Participant)
Mrs. Courtney Black, ISS US National Lab (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Silvermoon
Session
Paige Graff, JACOBS@NASA Johnson Space Center (Participant)
Julie Ann Fooshee, NASA/MTS (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Silvermoon
Session
Mr. Richard White Ed.S., Daniell Middle School (Participant)
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Astronaut Gallery- Lunch 2
Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Saturn Club
Session
Maryann Hebda, USD 231 (Participant)
Kate Sample (Participant)