The shuttle, the Spirit of Education, travels to schools throughout the
Midwest from its launch pad in Spencer, Wisconsin. Its mission is to motivate children in the
elementary grades to learn. The curriculum was developed primarily for students in the 4th,
5th, and 6th grades. Special arrangements can be made for younger students to tour the shuttle.
Older students may benefit from the shuttle experience by performing tasks developed by their
classroom teachers in conjunction with the more advanced activities on the shuttle.
The
Dream Flight USA Foundation and curriculum were developed by Sharon Ryan, a fifth
grade teacher at John Marshall School in the Wausau, WI school district. Mrs. Ryan, a
Presidential Award recipient, developed a similar program in the school district which served
students for ten years.
Marie Traska, a veteran teacher and a real
space fan, has logged several Dream Flight USA shuttle missions.
Jack
Gostisha, a veteran and recently retired science teacher brings a love of space flight to
the Dream Flight USA shuttle program.
Barry Brubaker and Keith
Karow are the shuttle pilots. Both are veteran motor coach drivers, and Barry is a
retired teacher.