Published On: June 8th, 2017By

Aldine ISD 2017 JASON Argonauts Attend Reception

Friends and special guests gave the students and teachers chosen for the program an early sendoff.
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Student Diego Garza and teacher Chirmekia Washington pose with Dr. Eleanor Smalley (center).


[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]S[/dropcap]ince 2012, the District has taken part in the partnership. The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]AISD team will be traveling to Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, Canada to study the effects of climate change.

Funding from Chevron will cover their travel, lodging, food and all of the programming costs.

The reception took place at Fort Bend ISD. Xandra Williams-Earlie from Aldine ISD attended. She is program director of secondary science.

“We are fortunate to provide the award-winning [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]JASON Learning curriculum,” said Williams-Earlie. “I want to thank Chevron and JASON Learning for being outstanding partners. And I thank them for bringing science to life for our students.”

Special guests included Karen Rawls, the Chevron Houston public affairs representative; and Dr. Eleanor Smalley and Jude Kesl. Smalley is president and CEO of JASON Learning, while Kesl is the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]JASON Argonaut coordinator.

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Houston Area 2017 Argonauts

JASON Argonaut alumni also spoke to the students and parents about their experiences. They shared what was most impactful for them during their travel and how the experience has changed them as teachers and students. To conclude the evening, the 2017 Argonauts received their official JASON backpacks.

“We have been in a partnership with Chevron and the school districts in the Houston area for six years. We have history now of a public-private partnership that has just made an amazing difference,” said Smalley.

JASON Learning’s Argonaut Program awards a once-in-a-life research trip to one teacher and one student in each district every year. The trip allows the duo to work alongside scientists and engineers in the field.

Since 1990, more than 500 students and teachers have participated in the Argonaut program. Many Argo students have gone on to pursue degrees in STEM careers. The acronym stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Thank you Chevron and JASON Learning!

About the Author: Leticia Fehling

Director of Internal Communications