Sue Darnell Ellis Biography
Sue Darnell Ellis received the A. Scott Crossfield National Teacher of the Year Award, chosen by Scott Crossfield himself, in 1991. The previous year, 1990, Sue was named the National Christa McAuliffe Teacher of the Year, by the Aerospace Education Foundation and Air Force Association. She has been named Who's Who in a variety of categories.
Sue began her career in education as a classroom teacher of science and mathematics. She received her BS, MAT and Rank I degrees from Murray State University. Sue has administrative certifications as Secondary Principal, Supervision of Instruction, and Science Program Supervision. She is now working toward a Doctorate in Supervision and Administration at the University of Louisville. Sue was selected by NASA in 1985 as Kentucky's Teacher in Space Ambassador. She traveled across the state and nation sharing about NASA's free programs for teachers and students when Christa McAuliffe was lost with the Challenger in 1986. She was recruited to Paducah Independent Schools where she created and implemented NASA's largest Community Involvement Program (CIP) that was subsequently made NASA's national model. After the CIP was completed, the Kentucky Department of Education recruited Sue to Frankfort to work with schools statewide. There she created the first state-based Space Science Education Program serving 2500 teachers and also served as the State's Science Supervisor. While at KDE, Sue served as Chair of the KIRIS Assessment Committee and Science Performance Assessment Committee. She also served as Director of the Kentucky Science Olympiad. While at KDE, Sue was actively participated in Kentucky's Education Reform and from that experience was recruited by NASA to help them reform their education programs
Sue joined NASA in 1993 and served as Curriculum and Staff Development Specialist, State-based Program Coordinator for the Aerospace Education Services Program (AESP). Sue served in many capacities and coordinated many programs during her tenure at NASA. She served as NASA's coordinator of the National Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers (NEAT). Sue coordinated NASA State-based Programming in all 50 states for AESP and NEAT. She served as Staff Development and Training Specialist for AESP, and Management Team Member of AESP handling Human Resources for the professional Aerospace Education Specialists. Sue planned, implemented and lead training for hundreds of Education Reform issues nationally, and provided leadership in the design, development and implementation of training workshops and staff development for NASA /AESP /EAP /NEAT Educators. She support the implementation of national standards in math, science, technology. Sue served in a support/liaison capacity for NASA with many national organizations such as the National Research Council, National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions, National Council of State Science Supervisors, and National Science Teachers Association.
Sue believes we all create our tomorrows by what we dream today and that all children can learn at high levels.