Flying teachers team with NOAA for hurricane book

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “Teacher at Sea” program has recently published its second children’s book. Called “Teacher in the Air,” the book is aimed at students who want to learn more abut hurricane safety and research.

"We must inform our children about the importance of hurricane safety and awareness so that they can, in turn, help educate their families. If this book can play a part in saving even one life during a hurricane event, then it was a worthwhile effort," said co-author Diane Stanitski.

Stanitski, an associate professor in the Geography-Earth Science Department at Shippensburg University, and Lieutenant Commander John Adler, NOAA Corps, a NOAA P-3 aircraft navigator, along with illustrator Bruce Cowden, chief boatswain of NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown, have been on tour promoting their new book.

The book is not just for students and teachers who live in the Hurricane-prone South. The book was unveiled at the National Science Teachers Association Conference before about 12,000 attendees in Anaheim, Calif. The authors hope it will have a broader audience.

"Having the book released at the NSTA in Anaheim was a great experience because so many teachers from the West Coast were able to receive copies of it for their classrooms," Adler said. "I remember growing up in southern California, where earthquake preparedness was emphasized, and never learning much about hurricanes. Bruce's brilliant pictures and the informative text will definitely help educate America's school children."

The conference attendees received a NOAA hurricane education kit that included a variety of resources and education activities focusing on hurricane research. Items included the Teacher in the Air book, a CD, a DVD and hard copies of the materials on the disks.

Teachers may request a free copy by contacting the NOAA Outreach Unit at noaa-outreach@noaa.gov.