Tech teachers get jobs, cash for summer

TITUSVILLE -- Paul Ackerman, a science teacher at Edgewater High School, knows exactly how he wants to spend his summer vacation.

At school.

Ackerman is one of five Orange County teachers selected to be part of Teacher Quest, the Titusville-based Technological Research and Development Authority's effort to offer teachers real world, high-tech experiences during the summer months.

The authority was established in 1987 to pass on technology from NASA and the aerospace industry to schools and small businesses throughout the state. It heads a bustling business incubator, a free technology outreach program to small businesses and six different educational programs, funded mostly by matching funds from private industry.

There is some state funding. Funds for Teacher Quest come from the sale of Challenger license plates. Private companies have matched that cash for a total of $600,000.

The idea, says Frank Kinney, executive director of the development authority, is to give K-12 teachers experience either at the university level or in private high-tech businesses. It's hoped the teachers will take the experiences back to classrooms in the fall, says Kinney, "ultimately sparking students to consider science and technology-based careers in the future."

To date, Teacher Quest has awarded more than $200,000 to teachers for summer employment opportunities at technology-based companies.

Ackerman, for instance, is working for the third consecutive year at the Institute of Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida. His salary at the institute is commensurate with the college professors on staff.

And there's another bonus. The Institute also keeps Ackerman on staff part time during the school year.

This year, says Kinney, it's hoped 130 teachers will participate in the program.